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OF  CALlf QRNI 


6IFT  OF 
ROBEPCT 
BEIPHER. 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 


NARRATIVES  OF  THE  SIXTIES  AND  OTHER 
DAYS,  WITH  GRAPHIC  DESCRIPTIONS  OF 
THRILLING  PERSONAL  ADVENTURES 

B  Y 


DR.  NELSON  ARMSTRONG,  V.  S. 


LATE  OF  THE  EIGHTH  NEW  YORK  HEAVY  ARTILLERY  ^ 
VETERAN  OF  THE  SECOND  ARMY  CORPS  ^  TWENTY-EIGHT 
YEARS  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC 

Charter  Member  of  Phil.  Kearney  Post,  No.  7,  1876,  Yankton,  Dakota  Territory 
Joined  Garfield  Post,  No.  25,  Wichita,  Kan.,  by  Card,  1894 


PRESENT  MEMBER 

W.  R.  CORNMAN  POST,    NO.   57,   BY   CARD 

SAN  BERNARDINO 
1904 


Cloth  Bound     -     Price  $1.50 


Times -Mirror  P.  and  B.  House 
1906 


COPYRIGHT    19«« 

by 
DR.  NELSON  ARMSTRONG 


Dedication. 

I  deem  it  fitting  that  this  little  Book  be  dedicated  to  my 
comrades,  the  Veteran  heroes,  of  the  stormy  and  rebellious 
days  of  the  Civil  War,  (who  are  dear  to  me  as  brothers),  their 
sons  and  daughters,  the  patriotic  and  liberty  loving  citizens  of 
our  United  States  of  America. 

With  esteem  and  affection  of  the  Author. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page 

Frontispiece  1 

Officers  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery        -  31 

Billy  McCabe  Defying  the  Johnnies  -       71 

The  Quarter  Dash  at  Platt  Creek  123 

There  are  the  Indians  -     139 

The  House  That  Became  Historic  165 

Captain  Lavender,  with  Yawl  and  Crew  175 

I  Have  "Got"  You,  Old  Man                                                    -  207 

The  Redwood  Cabin  on  the  Hill  -    229 

Last  of  Our  Happy  Days          -                    ....  247 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    I. 
Boyhood,  and  Days  Leading  up  to  the  War. 

Election  of  1856 — Stormy  scenes  on  the  floors  of  Congress — 
Old  Bowie  Knife — Another  Presidential  Election — Days  that 
tried  the  soul  of  man— Three  boys — Noble  aged  patriot. 

CHAPTER    II. 
The  Sixties. 

Historical  Review  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery, 
(one  hundred  and  twenty-ninth  infantry) — Its  enrollment,  or 
ganization,  transformation — Duties  in  the  defenses  of  Washing 
ton — March  to  the  front — Movements  with  the  army  of  the  Poto 
mac  in  the  overland  campaign — Siege  of  Petersburg. 

CHAPTER   III. 

General  Grant  Lieutenant  General — The  Eighth  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery  leaves  Baltimore — March  through  Washington — 
The  Potomac — Landing  in  old  Virginia — the  night  in  the  woods — 
Arrival  at  Spottsylvania — The  first  engagement — The  gray 
horse — A  two  mile  dash — Charge  on  the  enemy. 

CHAPTER   IV. 

To  the  North  Anna  River — Crossing  the  bridge  under  fire — 
The  turn  to  the  left — The  Chickahominy — And  Battle  of  Cold 
Harbor — Captain  Ludden  a  prisoner  three  minutes — Tribute  to 
Colonel  Porter — Sergeant  Joseph  Shaw. 

CHAPTER*  V. 

In  the  Shadow  of  the  Wilderness — The  Dawn — General 
Grant's  strategy — Sherman  and  the  western  boys — Sheridan  in 


CONTENTS 

the  Shenandoah — Historic  march — Charge  the  enemy's  works  at 
Petersburg — Death  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bates — Captain  Lud- 
den,  a  prisoner,  goes  to  Richmond — Captain  Ludden's  return  to 
•the  Regiment — Colonels  Murphy  and  Mclver — The  boys  in  the 
blue  and  the  gray. 

CHAPTER   VI. 
Battle  of  Hatcher's  Run   (Boydton   Road). 

Leaving  the  line  in  front  of  Petersburg — My  difficulties — 
The  new  recruit — on  the  flank — Captain  Ludden  in  command  of 
the  Regiment— Death  of  Lieutenant  Fellows— Officers  assembled 
— Rebel  battery  opens  fire  on  the  house — The  boys  on  horse — 
We  charge  'the  enemy — The  Retoel  prisoner — Two  brigades  to 
the  rear — Memories  of  General  Grant— Billy  McCabe — The  Re 
trograde  march— The  wounded  Lieutenant— Return  to  the  line 
in  front  of  Petersburg. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Some  of  the  reasons  why  the  comrades  are  clinging  together 
today. 

CHAPTER  VIM. 

Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  (129th  Infantry)  Volun 
teers. 

Official  Reports. 

Letter  of  E.  D.  Morgan,  Albany,  N.  Y.— Letter  of  Thos.  Hill- 
house,  Adjt.  General — Regiment  arrives  at  Baltimore — Trans 
formation — Joins  Second  Army  Corps — Major  Gen.  John  Gibbon's 
Report  of  Cold  Harbor — Major  Erastus  M.  Spaulding. 

Battle   of   R*eam-Station. 

Report  of  Colonel  Murphy — Maj.  Gen.  John  Gibbon — Gen'l 
Order  No.  63 — Letter  of  Major  Gen.  Hancock. 

Hatcher's   Run  or  Boydton   Road. 

Report  of  Brig.  Gen'l  Egen — Col.  James  Willett — Thos.  A. 
Smith,  Brig.  Gen'l.— Gen'l.  Order  No.  41— Major  General  Meade. 


CONTSNTS 

CHAPTER   IX. 
America's    Heroes  of   Freedom. 

Two  score  years — Lee  and  the  two  Johnsons — Senators  and 
Representatives — Brave  men  wept — Seized  forts  and  arsenals — 
Grant  and  Sherman — Logan's  encouragement  to  the  Government 
— The  President's  call  for  Volunteers — Battle  of  Bull  Run — In 
crease  of  the  army  to  five  hundred  thousand — Four  long  years — 
The  enemies'  country — All  the  same  gnawed  hard-tack — An  army 
of  Patriots — Our  country  could  not  be  divided — Invincible  army — 
Gathering  of  the  Veterajis — Ties  that  bind  men  most  closely 
to  each  other — The  fallen  comrades — American,  we  love  thy 
name. 

CHAPTER   X. 

Our  social  meeting  day — The  year  of  Sixty-Three — Auld 
Lang  Syne — Happy  days  of  yore — Flowery  Florida. 

CHAPTER   XI. 
The   Postponed    Horse,  or  Across   Dakota  Territory   in   1880. 

A  contemplated  journey  to  the  gold  fields — My  new  friend — 
Trotting  horse  Turk  Gold-dust — Fitted  out  for  a  campaign  on 
the  open  prairies — White-Swan  and  Fort  Randall — Platt  Creek — 
The  quarter  dash — Fort  Thompson — A  night  with  old  friends — 
Indian  agencies— The  Big  Muddy— Big  Bend — Birth  of  contem 
plation — Fort  Perrie — The  Village  Hotel — Wakpa  Shicka. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Bad  river — The  storm  at  Plum  Creek — Indians  on  the  war 
path — Dead  Man's  Creek — Cheyenne  River — A  greater  misfor 
tune—The  Indians  in  sight— The  phantom  Horse-guards. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Elk  Creek  Valley— My  reverie — Bull-dog  Ranch — Scoop- 
town— Bowlder  Park— Metropolis  of  the  Black  Hills— Arrival 
at  the  Race  Track— Runners  about  Camp — The  strange  horse — 
President  of  the  Trotting  and  Racing  Association— The  post- 
ponment— Corpulent  butter — Two  gentlemen  became  the  owners 
of  my  Trotter— Eastward  Bound— Curley  and  Auld  Lang  Syne. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Ten  Days  in  the  Flood  on  the  Missouri   River,  1881. 

The  cold  winter — Breaking  of  the  ice — A  venturesome  peo 
ple — The  Steamer  Western — The  gorge  unbroken — Hanson's 
landing — Our  first  duty  as  rescuers — The  blessings  of  a  de 
lighted  young  wife — The  house  that  became  Historic. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Arrival  at  the  Park's  Place — The  little  skiff  at  sea — Terrific 
storm — Thirty-six  hours  imprisonment — Danger  not  fully  real 
ized — Mercury  hovering  around  zero — In  younger  days — Preter 
natural  scenery — Arrival  of  Captain  Lavender  with  yawl  and 
crew— Searching  the  icy  country  for  an  outlet— Singing  on  the 
water  a  bad  omen — Captain  Noble  at  the  helm. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

My  craft — Captain  Noble  a  stranger — Receding  of  the  waters 
— The  Hardys — Return  of  the  water — Crowded  apartments — 
West's  Harbor— Religious  services— Monday,  April  fourth — A 
hard  and  a  long  pull— The  Nelson  Family — We  took  a  walk— Re 
turn  to  the  troubled  waters — The  widow  and  family — Blinding 
snow  storm — Brave  hearts  and  willing  hands. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Paper  of  S.  K.  Felton 

Necessity  of  more  boats — The  Iron  life  boat — Our  appear 
ance  hailed  with  joy — Crashing  ice  and  roaring  waters — Hemmed 
in  by  the  gorge — Helping  along  the  old  and  encouraging  all — 
The  sturdy  hearts  and  willing  ones. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

The   Days  of  the  High    Wheels,  or   How   Dakota    Belle   Trotted 
away  with  the  stakes. 

Mitchell  an  aspiring  town— The  Race-Track — The  favorite 
gray  mare — Excitement  running  high — The  young  mare  that  was 
raised  in  Dakota— Faint  hopes — The  third  day  of  July— The  im- 


CONTENTS 

mense  crowd  of  people — A  newly  aroused  intelligence — A  des 
perate  trio — Plenty  of  ice  the  balance  of  the  season. 

CHAPTER'  XIX. 
A   Feast  With   the   Hawkeyes. 

Unlike  Uncle  Isaac  Grossman — The  Hawkeye  Club — So  says 
the  Doctor— Beach  and  Gould— Natural  Scenery — More  ex 
perience  than  capital — All  smiles  and  attention— Invited  for  an 
outing — A  Tam-O-Shanter  ride — The  old  mare's  blood  was  roiled 
— Jack's  obligated  duty. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
A  Comrade's  Letter. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Twice   an    Out-Cast — A    Warden's    experience. 


PREFACE. 

In  preparing  this  work,  which,  has  been  a  labor  of 
love,  as  well  as  a  necessity,  I  make  no  claim  to  profound 
investigations,  or  literary  merit.  The  sentiments  and  style 
are  my  own,  written  from  memory,  after  so  many  years. 
I  have  simply  attempted  to  narrate  facts  and  events  as 
they  appeared  to  my  personal  observation.  Whatever  the 
defects,  I  crave  the  indulgence  of  my  comrades  in  arms, 
their  descendants,  and  a  generous  and  grateful  public. 

One  by  one,  the  heroes  of  the  great  struggle  are  an 
swering  the  last  roll-call,  and  passing  to  that  great  be 
yond,  whose  streets  are  golden  paved,  and  where  shot  and 
shell  from  an  hostile  army's  guns,  and  the  dangers  and 
difficulties  of  a  soldier's  life  are  unknown.  Nearly  two 
score  years  have  elapsed  since  the  restoration  of  peace. 
There  are  still  living  many  comrades  whose  experiences  in 
the  days  of  hostilities— and  in  peaceful  times — were  simi 
lar  to  my  own.  To  them  the  following  reminiscences  will 
recall  many  fading  recollections ;  and  I  trust  prove  of  more 
than  a  passing  interest.  To  their  children,  they  will  recall 
valiant  deeds  performed  by  noble  mothers  and  sons  and 
daughters  at  home  bereft  of  a  husband  and  father's  care 
in  those  agonizing  days  of  Civil  War. 

Having  lost  my  health  in  the  service  of  my  country 
during  the  Rebellion,  the  days  of  the  nation's  peril,  I  have 

2 


PREFACE 

suffered  these  many  years  with  disablements  contracted 
there.  I  have  sought  climate  and  physicians,  hoping  to 
regain  health  or  repair  damage  received  at  that  time,  but 
without  success.  The  experiment  has  been  to  me  a  costly 
one.  I  find  myself  in  these  late  years  unable  to  perform 
any  part  of  manual  labor,  and  with  only  a  small  remit 
tance  from  the  government  to  live  upon.  Desiring  however 
to  earn  my  support,  I  have  selected  from  my  personal, 
adventurous  experiences  the  narratives  contained  in  these 
pages,  hoping  my  friends  and  patrons  will  find  them  enter 
taining  and  of  benefit,  and  that  I  may  receive  from  them 
a  small  revenue  that  will  aid  me  to  live  in  a  fairly  com 
fortable  manner  through  declining  years. 
Devotedly  yours, 

NELSON  ARMSTRONG. 


Stories  of  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion 


186 


865 


Bo^boob 

an&  Dass  lea&ing  up  to  tbe  1KHat 


CHAPTER  I 


ELECTION  OF  1856— STORMY  SCENES  ON  THE  FLOORS  OP 
CONGRESS— OLD  BOWIE  KNIFE— ANOTHER  PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION— DAYS  THAT  TRIED  THE  SOUL  OF  MAN— THREE 
BOYS— NOBLE  AGED  PATRIOT. 

My  parents  were  born  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  New 
York.  They  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  At  the  time  of 
my  birth  they  were  residing  in  Canada,  where  my  father 
was  interested  in  the  lumber  business,  and  through  the  in 
fluence  of  Canadian  friends  I  was  named  for  the  Lord 
Admiral  of  the  British  Navy,  Lord  Nelson.  When  I  was 
six  years  old  we  removed  to  Niagara  County,  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  there  being  a  large  family  of  children. 

After  my  tenth  year  had  passed,  I  was  but  very  little 
of  my  time  at  home.  Living  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  having 
a  great  fondness  for  breaking  and  riding  horses,  I  readily 
found  employment.  Later  I  went  to  Lewiston,  near  which 
place  I  was  engaged  in  work  at  farming  and  handling 
horses,  which  seemed  to  me  a  pleasant  and  smoothly  run 
ning  occupation  and  the  kind  I  enjoyed.  The  general 
routine  of  labor  was  followed  year  after  year,  I  attending 
the  district  school  in  the  winter  months,  and  I  think  the 
people  in  those  days  were  really  happy;  they  seemed  con- 


22  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

tent  with  their  lot  in  life,— at  least,  those  that  I  knew  and 
heard  of. 

My  earliest  recollection  of  a  Presidential  campaign 
was  in  1856,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  James  Buch 
anan.  The  national  troubles  at  this  time  were  brewing, 
and  while  the  planters,  mechanics  and  industrious  people 
were  happy  and  prosperous,  the  politicians  and  busybodies 
in  the  South  were  scheming  and  plotting  secession.  There 
were  many  stormy  scenes  on  the  floors  of  Congress,  and 
towards  the  close  of  the  administration  matters  reached 
a  boiling  heat. 

It  was  about  this  time  the  Hon.  John  F.  Potter,  Rep 
resentative  from  Wisconsin,  acquired  the  title  of  "Old 
Bowie  Knife."  In  April,  1860,  when  treason  had  raised 
its  hand  to  stab  the  Nation  to  the  death,  and  a  hot  debate 
was  going  on  in  the  House,  member  after  member  from 
the  South  arose  and  poured  his  wrath  upon  the  heads  of 
the  "mudsills"  of  the  North.  And  now  came  the  turn  in 
the  tide— Owen  Love  joy,  a  bold  and  fearless  man  from 
Illinois,  arose  to  reply.  He  denounced  the  institution  of 
slavery  in  a  manner  unheard  of  before  in  the  halls  of  Con 
gress;  the  Southerners  winced  beneath  his  sledgehammer 
blows.  Love  joy  marched  down  one  aisle  and  up  another 
among  the  Southern  members,  shaking  his  fist  in  their 
faces  and  denouncing  them  in  unmeasured  terms. 

While  this  was  going  on,  Roger  A.  Pryor,  a  Virginian, 
later  a  lawyer  in  New  York  City,  advanced  to  the  center 
of  the  hall  in  a  towering  passion  exclaiming,  "The  gentle- 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  23 

man  from  Illinois  shall  not  approach  this  side  of  the  House 
shaking  his  fists  and  talking  in  the  way  he  has  talked !  It 
is  bad  enough  to  be  compelled  to  sit  here  and  hear  him 
utter  his  treasonable  and  insulting  language,  but  he  shall 
not,  sir,  come  upon  this  side  of  the  House  shaking  his  fists 
in  our  faces." 

At  this  time  Mr.  Potter  arose  and  said:  "We  have 
listened  to  the  gentlemen  upon  the  other  side  for  eight 
weeks  when  they  denounced  the  members  upon  this  side 
with  violent  and  offensive  language.  We  listened  to  them 
gently  and  heard  them  through,  and  now,  sir,  this  side 
shall  be  heard,  let  the  consequences  be  what  they  may!" 

This  of  course  drew  the  fire  and  the  brunt  of  the  battle 
onto  Potter,  and  Pryor  was  quick  to  rain  down  his  abuse 
upon  him,  but  the  man  from  the  Badger  State  stood  by 
his  word,  and  a  few  days  later  received  a  note  from  Pryor. 
Hindman,  of  Arkansas,  delivered  it.  It  only  asked  Mr. 
Potter  to  leave  the  District  to  receive  a  written  communi 
cation.  Potter  answered  that  as  the  note  contemplated  a 
duel,  and  as  his  disqualification  was  contained  in  the  Consti 
tution  of  Wisconsin,  he  would  not  leave  the  District. 

This  was  followed  by  a  peremptory  challenge,  which 
Potter  accepted,  and  quickly  named  the  common  bowie 
knife  as  the  weapon,  the  duellists  to  be  locked  in  a  room. 
Chisholm,  Pryor 's  second,  protested  against  so  barbarous 
a  weapon,  but  Lander,  Potter's  second,  would  consent  to 
no  other,  but  offered  to  substitute  himself  for  Potter  with 
other  weapons.  This  could  not  be  agreed  to,  and  no  further 


24  NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB 

demands  were  made  upon  Mr.  Potter.  At  the  Convention 
which  met  at  Chicago  in  June  following,  he  was  presented 
by  the  Missouri  delegation  with  a  bowie  knife,  seven  feet 
long  with  a  blade  three  inches  wide;  the  handle  was  of 
ebony  and  the  blade  was  beautifully  polished  steel.  On 
one  side  of  the  blade  was  the  inscription:  "  Presented  to 
John  F.  Potter  of  Wisconsin  by  the  Republicans  of  Mis 
souri,  (1860.)  '  On  the  opposite  side  was:  "  Will  always 
meet  a  Prior  engagement. " 

Another  Presidential  campaign  came  on  in  the  fall 
of  1860,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States.  This  the  Southern  leaders  alleged  a  suffi 
cient  cause  for  secession  and  rebellion,  and  at  once  pro 
ceeded  to  take  possession  of  the  United  States  mints,  the 
forts,  the  arsenals,  and  even  tore  down  and  insulted  the 
Nation's  flag.  They  said  the  North  was  made  up  of  mean 
manufacturers,  of  traders  and  farmers,  who  were  cravens 
and  cowards  and  would  not  fight. 

Even  after  forts  had  been  taken  and  public  arms 
stolen  from  the  arsenals  and  distributed  among  the  enraged 
militia  in  the  South,  the  brave,  patient  and  honest  freemen 
of  the  Great  North  could  not  realize  the  fact,  and  did  not 
until  Beauregard  began  to  fire  upon  a  garrison  of  United 
States  troops  in  Fort  Sumter.  Then,  in  a  mighty  upheavel, 
the  people  arose.  The  thunderbolt  had  burst  forth  in  all 
its  barbarity.  Those  were  days  that  tried  the  soul  of  man. 
We  had  no  choice ;  a  civil  war  was  forced  upon  us  and  the 
country  called  upon  her  patriotic  sons  for  protection,  and 


NUGGBTS  OF  EXPERIENCE  25 

all  mankind  have  recognized  in  the  people  of  the  North 
a  brave  and  stubborn  race. 

In  the  family  in  which  I  lived  there  were  three  boys ; 
though  they  were  not  of  the  one  family,  they  were  to  each 
other  as  brothers.  All  of  them  signed  allegiance  to  their 
country  in  her  hour  of  need,  and  two  had  early  gone  forth 
in  obedience  to  the  call  to  arms.  I,  being  the  youngest 
of  the  number,  was  the  last  to  leave  home,  but  the  struggle 
continued  and  the  time  came  when  my  services  were  also 
needed.  Of  the  three  athletic  and  aspiring  young  men,— 
one  son  and  two  adopted,— who  left  the  home  of  that  noble, 
aged  patriot,  Cyrus  Peet,  (whose  energetic  support  and 
encouragement  were  ever  for  the  Union  and  who  asked 
only  to  be  permitted  to  remain  in  this  life  until  Peace  and 
Freedom  be  restored  to  the  National  cause,— he  passed 
away  soon  after),— one  in  his  fourth  year  of  service  lost  a 
leg  in  battle  near  St.  Mary 's  Church,  resulting  in  his  death ; 
one  a  little  later  succumbed  to  typhoid  fever  at  City  Point 
hospital.  Although  both  departed  this  life  on  the  soil  of 
Virginia,  the  battlefield  of  the  Rebellion,  their  remains 
are  resting  in  the  little  churchyard  at  Lewiston,  New  York, 
and  after  the  war  I  alone  returned  in  life,  but  a  mere  frag 
ment  of  my  former  self,  to  the  old  home. 


Sixties 


CHAPTER 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW  OF  THE  EIGHTH  NEW  YORK  HEAVY  AR 
TILLERY,  (ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-NINTH  INFAN 
TRY)— ITS  ENROLLMENT,  ORGANIZATION,  TRANSFORMA 
TION—DUTIES  IN  THE  DEFENSES  OF  WASHINGTON- 
MARCH  TO  THE  FRONT— MOVEMENTS  WITH  THE  ARMY 
OF  THE  POTOMAC  IN  THE  OVERLAND  CAMPAIGN— SIEGE 
OF  PETERSBURG. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  New 
York  Infantry  Volunteers,  was  recruited  and  organized  at 
Lockport,  New  York,  in  the  summer  of  1862;  composed  of 
the  good,  moral  and  able-bodied  young  men  of  Niagara, 
Wyoming  and  Genesee  Counties,  and  some  who  were  filling 
prominent  positions  at  time  of  enlistment.  It  was  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Peter  A.  Porter,  of  Niagara  Falls. 

Some  time  after  being  assigned  to  duty,  this  regiment 
was  transformed  into  Artillery,  and  was  afterward  known 
as  the  Eighth  Regiment,  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  Volun 
teers,  and  was  placed  in  the  defenses  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
headquarters  at  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  with 
permission  to  recruit  two  new  companies;  also  to  fill  up 
the  ten  old  companies  to  the  Artillery  standard. 


30  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

In  1863  the  war  had  been  going  on  more  than  two 
years,  during  which  time  my  attention  had  been  particu 
larly  given  to  the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Novel  and  exciting  reports  of  daring  deeds  at  the  front 
were  current;  officers  were  in  all  parts  of  the  country  re 
cruiting  soldiers ;  bands  of  music  were  playing ;  drums  were 
beaten,  guns  were  fired,  patriotic  speeches  were  made ;  the 
people  hurrahed,  and  men  enlisted  for  the  war.  I  was 
seized  with  a  sudden,  aspiring  desire  to  become  a  soldier, 
to  be  one  to  take  part  in  the  struggle  for  the  cause  sacred 
to  all  true  in  heart.  I  believed  my  country  needed  my 
services;  my  patriotism  was  aroused  to  its  utmost. 

Officers  were  instructed  to  enlist  men,  allowing  them 
the  privilege  of  choosing  their  company  and  regiment.  I 
knew  Company  E  of  the  Eighth  New  York  had  been  re 
cruited  at  Niagara  Falls.  I,  having  lived  and  attended 
school  there  when  a  small  boy,  was  personally  acquainted 
with  its  Captain  and  nearly  all  of  its  members,  and  some 
of  them  had  written  that  they  were  holding  a  place  in  the 
company  for  me.  I  reported  at  the  recruiting  office  at 
Lockport  and  succeeded  in  passing  examination.  Before 
taking  our  final  leave  for  the  regiment,  I  found  there  were 
fifteen  (myself  making  sixteen)  Lewiston  boys  who  had 
enlisted  for  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery. 

A  few  days  were  required  after  enlistment  to  prepare 
the  new  recruits  for  going  to  their  regiments.  A  certain 
number  must  be  ready  to  move  at  the  same  time;  clothing 
must  be  drawn ;  speeches  were  to  be  made  and  good  advice 


NUGGHTS  OP  HXPHRIHNCH  33 

given.  Finally,  however,  the  red  tape  did  give  out  and 
the  boys  were  started  on  their  way  rejoicing.  Loaded  in 
box  cars,  in  or  on  top  of  freight  (we  did  not  have  palace 
cars,  nor  did  we  ask  or  wish  for  them),  we  were  a  happy 
lot. 

When  we  reached  Elmira,  the  State  rendezvous  for 
recruits  for  the  State  of  New  York,  we  quartered  in  a 
three  story,  wooden  warehouse;  it  had  been  used  so  much 
for  this  purpose  that  it  had  the  appearance  of  being  used 
many  years  for  a  cattle  pen  to  which  the  city  scavenger 
never  had  access.  But  we  were  the  younger  boys  of  the 
family,  the  older  ones  having  gone  on  before;  they  were 
requiring  a  good  deal  of  attention,  and  Uncle  Sam  had 
not  yet  got  to  us  with  suitable  bed  clothing,  so  while  we 
remained  in  these  quarters  our  beds  were  on  the  muddy 
floor;  we  were  young,  however,  and  soldiers  too,  and  ex 
pected  to  see  hardships,  for  we  were  soon  to  be  engaged 
in  the  gentle  occupation  of  killing  or  being  killed,  and 
did  not  complain  of  a  muddy  bed.  After  remaining  at 
these  quarters  a  few  days,  we  removed  to  the  barracks  for 
a  few  days  more,  when  we  got  transportation  to  the  regi 
ment. 

We  reached  Baltimore  in  due  time  and  were  marched 
to  Fort  McHenry,  the  regimental  headquarters,  when  I 
found  Company  E  had  received  its  quota.  But  we  were 
informed  that  Companies  L  and  M  were  not  yet  complete 
and  we  were  requested  to  join  one  of  the  new  companies. 
Company  L  would  be  commanded  by  Captain  S.  D.  Lud- 


34  NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB 

den,  of  Batavia,  New  York,  who  had  not  at  that  time  made 
his  appearance  in  the  regiment,  and  had  never  been  seen 
by  any  of  the  Lewiston  boys,  but  was  said  to  be  a  gallant 
young  officer,  twenty-four  years  of  age,  who  had  served 
in  the  army  the  first  two  years  of  the  war,  and  at  the  ex 
piration  of  his  enlisted  term  returned  home  with  the  hon 
ors  of  a  First  Lieutenant's  commission;  also,  during  his 
stay  at  home,  as  Governor  Seymour's  officer,  he  had  re 
cruited  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  for  the  United  States 
service.  The  result  of  a  brief  consultation  among  the  Lew 
iston  boys  was  in  favor  of  Company  L,  and  I  believe  there 
was  never  a  murmur  of  regret  as  to  choice. 

Companies  D,  F,  L  and  M  were  located  at  Fort  Fed 
eral  Hill,  where  they  remained  until  the  spring  of  1864, 
engaged  in  drill  and  guarding  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

As  spring  came  and  the  sun  grew  warm,  the  snow 
melted  away.  Frequent  reports  came  to  us  through  the 
press  of  the  preparations,  concentration  and  movements 
of  troops  at  the  front;  all  seemed  to  point  as  strong  evi 
dence  to  a  lively  coming  summer  campaign.  Time  was 
seeming  long;  garrison  duty  was  tame  soldiering;  I  was 
anxious  for  active  service  and  desired  to  see  something  of 
the  excitement  of  war.  I  longed  to  see  the  great  army  in 
motion  and  to  be  with  it. 


CHAPTER  III 


GENERAL,  GRANT  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL— THE  EIGHTH  NEW 
YORK  HEAVY  ARTILLERY  LEAVES  BALTIMORE— MARCH 
THROUGH  WASHINGTON— THE  POTOMAC— LANDING  IN 
OLD  VIRGINIA— THE  NIGHT  IN  THE  WOODS— ARRIVAL  AT 
SPOTTSYLVANIA— THE  FIRST  ENGAGEMENT— THE  GRAY 
HORSE— A  TWO-MILE  DASH— CHARGE  ON  THE  ENEMY. 

On  the  9th  day  of  March,  1864,  General  Grant  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant  General,  and  on  the  12th,  by  spe 
cial  order  of  the  President,  assigned  to  the  command  of 
all  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  And  now  came  orders 
to  all  Heavy  Artillery  regiments  to  report  at  the  front  for 
duty.  The  boys  were  jubilant  with  the  prospect  of  being 
relieved  from  the  oft-repeated  white  glove,  dress  parade 
duty  at  the  fort. 

At  country's  call  we  in  line  did  fall, 

Though  the  storms  'did  almost  drown  us; 

Both  night  and  day  we  marched  away, 
For  the  dear  ones  left  behind  us. 

Well  I  remember  that  Sabbath  morning  when,  with 
buoyant  step  and  hopeful  hearts,  we  marched  out  of  Fort 
Federal  Hill,  through  the  streets  of  Baltimore.  The  rain 
was  falling  in  torrents,  and  our  regimental  band  before  us 


36  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

gaily  played  ''The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me."  What  glory 
there  seemed  in  store  for  the  young  soldier!  Merrily  we 
tramped  along  through  the  rain  and  running  water  until 
we  reached  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railway  Company's 
yards,  where  we  waited  in  the  rain  several  hours  for  a 
freight  train  which  was  being  prepared  to  carry  us  to 
Washington. 

We  were  on  our  way  to  the  battlefields,  thirsting  for 
the  sights  there  to  be  seen,  believing  that  a  great  responsi 
bility  rested  upon  us,  that  we  would  act  a  very  important 
part  in  the  great  drama,  and  with  our  aid  the  national 
troubles  would  soon  be  settled.  I  can  frankly  say  we  very 
soon  had  the  opportunity  of  knowing  why  we  were  there 
and  the  kind  of  material  we  were  composed  of.  I  have 
sometimes  thought  that  possibly  the  war  could  have  been 
brought  to  a  close  if  we  had  not  been  there,  but  I  am  pleased 
to  know  we  are  honored  with  the  credit  of  having  done 
our  duty  well  on  the  field  of  battle.  I  am  credibly  in 
formed  that  our  regiment  ranks  second  on  the  rolls  as  hav 
ing  lost  the  greatest  number  in  battle. 

Our  train  was  got  ready  for  us  at  last  and  we  reached 
Washington  the  second  night.  We  were  quartered  in  a 
large,  open  building,  and  the  next  morning,  after  break 
fasting  on  soft  bread  and  coffee,  we  were  called  into  line 
and  marched  past  the  Capitol  and  down  Pennsylvania 
Avenue  towards  the  Potomac  River.  The  doors,  windows 
and  roofs  of  buildings  were  occupied  to  their  fullest  capa 
city;  the  streets  were  thronged  with  anxious  people  watch- 


NUGGHTS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH  37 

ing  our  moving  column,  eighteen  hundred  strong,— a  mag 
nificent  regiment  or  a  small  Artillery  brigade.  Many  amus 
ing  and  encouraging  words  were  given  us  as  we  passed 
along.  Some  said  it  was  the  finest  regiment  that  had  passed 
through  Washington;  others  remarked  that  we  would  not 
be  long  in  closing  accounts  with  the  Rebels,  and  some  said 
we  must  whip  the  Johnnies  and  come  back  soon  for  "the 
girls  we  left  behind "  were  waiting  for  us.  We  arrived  at 
the  Eiver,  where  the  transports  were  waiting  for  us,  and 
were  soon  on  board,  longing  to  move  down  that  memorable 
stream,  which  many  of  us  had  never  seen  before  but  had 
often  heard  mentioned  in  1861  and  '62. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  all  who  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  National  cause  in  those  days,  that  after  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  General  McDowell,  the  first  commander 
of  the  Union  forces  in  the  field,  was  relieved  and  General 
McClellan  assigned  to  command  the  Department  of  Wash 
ington  and  Northeastern  Virginia,  and  later,  to  command 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  with  his  headquarters  at 
Washington. 

The  Confederates  were  actively  preparing  for  war  and 
rapidly  increasing  their  strength  and  number.  The  inac 
tivity  of  the  Federal  Army  caused  a  great  deal  of  dissatis 
faction  throughout  the  North.  The  people  were  in  dark 
ness  by  reason  of  the  splendid  Army  of  the  Potomac  lying 
in  idleness,  and  for  many  months  were  kept  anxiously 
watching,  expecting  at  any  hour  to  hear  of  a  dashing  move 
ment  with  a  brilliant  victory  to  our  arms.  But  no  news 


38  NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRWNCB 

came,— only  the  old,  fatiguing  repetition,  "All  quiet  on  the 
Potomac."    Thus  we  often  heard  mentioned  the  Potomac. 

The  aspirations  to  political  distinction  seemed  to  be  a 
prevailing  epidemic  in  the  first  years  of  the  war,  and  the 
representatives  of  the  National  cause  were  so  divided  in 
sympathy  that  had  not  our  cause  been  mercifully  guarded 
by  the  All-wise  Providence,  we  surely  would  have  perished. 
The  President  was  sorely  distressed.  The  parental  Lincoln 
was  certainly  bereft  of  all  patience  when  he  said  to  Gen 
erals  McDowell  and  Franklin,  "If  General  McClellan  does 
not  want  to  use  the  army,  I  would  like  to  borrow  it,  pro 
vided  I  can  see  how  it  can  be  made  to  do  something." 

We  did  not  have  long  to  wait  on  our  little  transports; 
they  were  soon  on  the  way,  and  steamed  down  the  river  un 
til  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Aquia  Creek,  where  we  disem 
barked  and  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  Old  Virginia.  We  moved 
back  a  short  distance  from  the  River  and  went  into  camp 
for  the  night. 

Next  morning  we  struck  tents,  •  and  commenced  our 
march  across  the  plain  towards  the  Rappahannock  River, 
which,  with  the  sun  about  one  hour  in  sight,  we  crossed 
on  a  pontoon  bridge  about  one-half  mile  to  the  left,  or  down 
the  river,  from  the  ruins  of  Fredericksburg.  Night  came 
on  us  as  we  were  passing  over  a  narrow  road  with  heavy 
timber  on  each  side,  and  we  were  allowed  to  break  ranks 
and  go  into  the  woods  to  lie  down  for  the  night. 

When  in  these  later  years  I  reflect  on  that  night's 
doings,  I  think  what  a  lot  of  Si  Kleggs  there  must  have 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  39 

been.  It  seemed  to  me  every  man  in  the  regiment  was  at 
a  loss  as  to  his  own  whereabouts  and  was  calling  at  the  top 
of  his  voice  for  his  messmate,  and  the  echoes  resounding 
in  the  deep  forest  added  to  the  intensity.  It  was  the  most 
confounding  clamor  of  human  voices  I  had  ever  heard.  I 
have  often  wondered  why  the  Johnnies  did  not  come  down 
and  gobble  us  up,  and  if  our  comrades,  who  were  unfor 
tunately  confined  in  Libby  prison,  were  not  disturbed  in 
their  troubled  slumbers  with  our  noises.  I  remember  call 
ing  to  one  comrade  for  several  seconds;  he  afterward  told 
me  he  was  not  more  than  four  feet  from  me,  preparing  our 
blankets  and  trying  his  utmost  to  convince  me  he  was  not 
a  deserter.  We  at  last  found  ourselves  installed  and  enjoy 
ed  a  sound  and  refreshing  sleep. 

At  the  first  gray  of  the  morning,  when  I  awoke,  I  was 
surprised  to  see  a  part  of  the  regiment  in  line.  No  one 
said  anything  about  breakfast,  and  I  believe  we  got  none. 
The  officers  were  forming  the  men  in  line  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  awakened,  not  speaking  a  word  above  a  whisper. 
Our  battle  flags  were  uncovered  and  given  to  the  breeze. 
Lieutenant  Van-Dake,  pointing  to  the  colors,  remarked, 
"That  is  what  you  are  fighting  for!"  I  thought  we  must 
be  very  near  the  Johnnies  and  were  going  to  have  an  in- 
introduction,  but  we  saw  no  enemy  and  marched  on  to 
Spottsylvania. 

The  Eighth  New  York,  with  other  Heavy  Artillery 
regiments,  arrived  at  Spottsylvania  under  command  of 
General  R.  0.  Tyler.  It  was  called  the  Artillery  Division 


40  NUGGHTS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

and  was  halted  near  the  right  of  the  line  and  in  rear  of 
the  moving  army. 

The  Eighth  New  York  was  marched  and  counter 
marched,  held  in  reserve,  went  into  camp  for  a  few  min 
utes,  then  marched  again ;  thus  .continually  maneuvering,  as 
if  sparring  for  trouble.  Finally  we  went  into  camp  where 
we  remained  over  a  night,  in  the  edge  of  a  heavy  piece  of 
timber  that  immediately  opened  into  a  large  clearing  with 
standing  timber  on  three  sides.  Near  us  was  a  building,— 
I  thought  at  that  time  a  court  house,— a  wooden  structure, 
which  appeared  to  me  to  be  about  forty  feet  wide  and 
about  sixty  feet  long.  It  was  one  story  high,  with  square 
front,  clap-boarded  outside,  unpainted,  and  owing  to  the 
dense  growth  of  timber  about  it,  was  visible  only  a  short 
distance  from  a  front  view. 

General  Grant  had  ordered  a  flank  movement  to  the 
left,  to  the  North  Anna  River,  for  the  supposed  purpose  of 
getting  in  the  rear  of  General  Lee  or  forcing  him  to  an 
open  field  fight. 

The  morning  after  our  going  into  camp  our  troops  on 
the  right  began  moving  past  us  to  the  left;  tramp,  tramp, 
tramp,  the  boys  came  marching  by  until  late  in  the  after 
noon,  when  it  seemed  all  had  gone  and  our  regiment  was 
left  in  quietness  and  solitude.  But  quietness  was  not  long- 
lived  in  those  days;  we  soon  heard  firing  on  the  right, 
where  our  troops  had  so  recently  been.  We  could  not  hear 
musketry,  but  the  Artillery  firing  was  grand.  The  first 
report  burst  upon  us  like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky; 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  41 

the  firing  increased  with  great  rapidity  and  grew  louder 
every  moment,  until  we  could  hear  the  continuous  booming 
of  the  cannon  of  many  batteries. 

As  I  stood  on  the  open  ground,  I  could  see  the  smoke 
from  the  guns  rising  above  the  hills  and  tree  tops  between 
us  and  the  field  of  action.  The  roar  of  cannon  was  loud 
and  incessant,  and  it  seemed  all  the  elements  of  Heaven  and 
earth  were  in  conflict.  The  ever-watchful  Lee  had  evi 
dently  in  some  way  obtained  information  of  General 
Grant's  movements  to  the  left,  and  ordered  General  Ewell 
with  his  corps  to  make  a  strong  demonstration  on  our  ex 
treme  right  and  rear.  Ewell  had  carried  out  the  instruc 
tions  of  his  chief.  Crossing  the  Ny  River  above  our  right, 
he  captured  the  road  leading  out  from  Fredericksburg  on 
which  our  supply  trains  were  moving,  and  charged  our 
weakened  line. 

I  do  not  know  how  long  we  stood  looking  toward  the 
roaring  batteries ;  perhaps  not  three  minutes,  but  I  remem 
ber  I  felt  as  if  I  would  like  to  be  near  enough  to  see  what 
they  were  doing.  I  was  soon  to  be  allowed  that  privilege, 
for  while  we  were  still  gazing  towards  the  field  of  conflict, 
a  comrade  remarked,  "A  messenger  comes!" 

At  that  moment  a  gray  horse  with  a  rider  appeared, 
but  far  away,  and  could  be  seen  only  at  intervals,  as  if  ris 
ing  to  the  summit  of  a  hill,  then  descending  towards  the 
valley,  but  steadily  galloping  towards  us.  Now  we  saw 
him,  now  he  was  lost  to  our  sight;  once  more  he  was  on 
the  hilltop ;  again  he  descended  to  the  valley ;  and  now  he 

4 


42  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

again  rose  to  view,  now  descending  to  the  open  field.  He 
is  nearer.  We  can  see  him  more  clearly  and  watch  him 
nobly  holding  his  pace,  straining  every  muscle  to  fill  his 
mission.  At  last,  with  drooping  head,  extended  nostrils 
and  reeking  sides,  the  gallant  steed  is  halted  at  our  regi 
mental  headquarters;  the  voice  of  the  noble  Porter,  clear 
on  the  soft  Southern  air,  commands,  "Fall  in!  Forward! 
Double  quick!  Mkrch!" 

The  boys,  (for  such  we  were,  I  being  but  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  some  of  us  yet  younger),  were  eager  for 
the  send  away.  I  can  justly  say  I  never  ran  a  longer  or  a 
better  race.  There  were  no  spectators  in  a  grand  stand 
to  witness  the  contest;  there  was  no  recall;  we  were  off 
with  the  first  word.  And  the  brave  boys  who  were  stub 
bornly  contesting  the  field  at  the  mouth  of  the  enemy's 
guns,  and  against  superior  numbers,  were  our  timers.  It 
was  a  two-mile  dash,  a  run  from  start  to  finish.  Many 
of  the  heavy  men,  unable  to  endure  the  hardship,  fell  by 
the  wayside.  Talk  about  Star  Pointer,  Dan  Patch  and 
the  great  Cresceus  will  all  do  very  well  for  the  sports  in 
these  peaceful  times,  but  those  were  days  when  a  nation's 
life  depended  upon  speed. 

Field  services  were  new  to  us  and  we  were  nearly  all 
laden  to  equal  the  little  Spanish  pack  burro  of  the  West 
ern  mountains.  It  was  a  common  occurrence  with  new  men 
in  the  field  to  want  to  carry  everything  that  had  been  sent 
them  from  home,  and  in  our  case  it  seemed  impossible  to 
understand  otherwise  until  taught  by  actual  experience. 


NUGGBTS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  43 

Here  let  us  pause  a  few  moments  and  see  this  army 
of  men,  each  carrying  a  Springfield  musket,  belts,  car 
tridge  box  with  forty  rounds  of  ammunition,  haversack 
with  the  amount  of  rations  necessary  and  usually  carried 
in  the  enemy's  country,  blanket,  shelter  tent,  canteen  with 
water  (when  we  could  get  it),  a  well  filled  knapsack,— in 
all,  weighing  from  sixty  to  eighty-five  pounds,  running  over 
hills,  through  swamp  and  wilderness,  to  get  to  a  fight! 

As  we  ran  and  neared  the  enemy,  we  cast  our  heavy 
knapsacks  in  a  pile  and  one  comrade  was  left  to  guard 
them.  We  ran  onto  the  field  a  short  time  before  sundown, 
immediately  swinging  into  line,  charged  the  enemy,  and  Ii3 
was  forced  to  a  hasty  retreat.  With  darkness  the  fight 
ceased  and  all  was  quiet.  And  with  the  exception  of  an 
occasional  musket  shot  on  the  outer  picket  post,  or  the 
shrill  whistle  of  the  whippoorwill,  the  night  was  still  as 
death  itself.  We  slept  on  our  arms  in  line  through  the 
night. 

*Personal  Memoirs  of  General  Grant,  Vol.  11,  Page  239: 
"  Lee,  probably  suspecting  some  move  on  my  part  and  seeing 
our  right  entirely  abandoned,  moved  Swell's  corps  about  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  with  Early's  as  a  reserve,  to  attack  us 
in  that  quarter.  Tyler  had  come  up  from  Fredericksburg  and 
had  been  halted  on  the  road  to  the  right  of  our  line  near  Kitch- 
ing's  brigade  of  Warren's  troops.  Tyler  received  the  attack 
with  his  raw  troops,  and  they  maintained  their  position  until  re 
inforced  in  a  manner  worthy  of  veterans. 

Hancock  was  in  a  position  to  re-inforce  speedily  and  was  the 
•oldier  to  do  it  without  waiting  to  make  disposition.    Burney  was 


44  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

thrown  to  Tyler's  right  and  Crawford  to  his  left,  with  Gibbon 
as  a  reserve,  and  Swell  was  whirled  back  speedily  and  with 
heavy  loss." 

In  the  morning  reconnoissances  were  made;  the  bat 
teries  threw  shells  into  the  woods  at  different  points,  with 
no  response  from  the  enemy.  Our  dead  were  buried  and 
we  marched  back  leisurely  over  the  ground  we  had  so  hur 
riedly  traversed  but  a  few  hours  before.  Some  of  us  did 
not  return,  for  we  had  experienced  the  genuineness  of  the 
fortunes  of  war,  and  we  had  learned  lessons  never  to  be 
forgotten;  we  certainly  did  not  forget  them  during  our 
soldiering  days.  First,  self  preservation;  second,  not  to 
burden  ourselves  with  luxuries  so  convenient  while  in  gar 
rison.  So  knapsacks  with  extra  clothing  were  thrown 
away  by  the  carload;  some  did  not  save  a  single  blanket. 
It  was  a  grand  picnic  for  the  veterans,  hardened  to  field 
service,  who,  with  smile  and  jest  selected  such  articles  from 
the  discarded  goods  as  best  suited  their  fancy.  The  mus 
ket,  cartridge  box,  haversack  and  canteen  were  even  too 
great  a  burden  for  the  tired  and  footsore  soldiers,  unaccus 
tomed  to  field  service,  on  their  long  and  hasty  marches 
through  the  suffocating  dust  and  hot  Southern  sun. 

John  Daird  Wilson,  in  his  history  of  the  "  Great  Civil  War  " 
says :  "  The  National  right  flank  was  guarded  by  a  body  of  foot 
artillerists  who  had  just  come  up  from  the  defenses  of  Washing 
ton  and  who  had  never  before  been  in  'battle;  they  were  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  R.  O.  Tyler.  Ewell's  attack  was  promptly 
met.  The  Artillerists,  ignorant  of  the  Indian  devices  to  which 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  45 

the  veterans  were  accustomed  to  resort  while  fighting  in  the 
woods,  fearlessly  exposed  themselves,  firing  furiously  and  ul 
timately  compelling  the  enemy  to  fall  back  from  the  road  and 
into  the  woods  beyond.  Tyler's  men  suffered  severely,  but  the 
honors  of  repulsing  the  enemy  belong  to  them." 

Horace  Greeley's  American  Conflict,  Vol.  11,  page  573: 

"Lee  threw  forward  Ewell  against  our  weakened  right  held 
by  Tyler's  division  of  foot  artillerists  recently  drawn  from  the 
defenses  of  Washington,  by  whom  he  was  gallantly  repulsed  and 
driven  off,  though  not  without  severe  loss  on  our  side.  The 
reckless  fighting  of  the  Artillerists — mainly  veterans  in  service 
but  new  to  the  field — excited  general  admiration,  but  cost 
blood." 


CHAPTER  IV 


TO  THE  NORTH  ANNA  RIVER— CROSSING  THE  BRIDGE  UNDER 
FIRE— THE  TURN  TO  THE  LEFT— THE  CHICKAHOMINY  AND 
BATTLE  OF  COLD  HARBOR— CAPTAIN  LUDDEN,  A  PRISONER 
THREE  MINUTES— TRIBUTE  TO  COLONEL  PORTER— SER 
GEANT  JOSEPH  SHAW. 

Our  regiment  was  now  jointed  to  the  second  division 
of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  and  from  Spottsylvania  we 
turned  to  the  left  to  participate  in  the  great  flank  move 
ment. 

Some  historians  have  it,  the  country  over  which  the 
National  army  marched  from  Spottsylvania  to  the  North 
Anna  River  was  fertile  and  beautiful;  I  have  no  doubt  of 
its  fertility  and  it  may  have  been  beautiful.  According  to 
my  recollections,  our  march  was  a  circuitous  one,  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  being  through  underbrush  and 
heavy  standing  timber.  The  weather  was  very  hot.  I  re 
member  seeing  some  of  our  soldiers  on  their  hands  and 
knees  crawling  on  the  ground  under  the  thick  brush,  suf 
fering  with  sunstroke.  One  young  lieutenant,  sick  and  un 
able  to  keep  up  with  his  command,  came  up  sometime  in 
the  night,  crawled  under  a  wagon  and  died  there  before 
morning. 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  47 

When  we  arrived  at  the  river  under  the  flying  shell 
from  the  Confederate  batteries,  we  marched  from  one  point 
to  another  as  if  in  search  of  a  fording  place,  but  the  banks 
were  high  and  steep,  and  we  received  orders  to  cross  on 
the  plank  bridge  (a  little  further  to  our  right,  I  think, — 
Tyler's  bridge),  to  the  south  side,  and  move  forward.  Up 
to  this  time,  Captain  Ludden  had  not  been  with  us  in  the 
field,  having  been  detained  as  Judge  of  Court  Martial  at 
Baltimore,  but  he  now  came  up  and  took  command  of  Com 
pany  L. 

Our  regiment  had  already  begun  to  cross  the  bridge, 
with  arms  at  right  shoulder  shift.  At  this  place  the  Con 
federates  had  constructed  strong  works  and  posted  batteries 
on  the  south  bank,  commanding  the  river.  Some  distance 
to  the  right  of  the  bridge  was  a  redan,  from  which,  when 
we  were  fairly  on  the  bridge,  the  enemy  opened  fire  on  us, 
cut  our  column  in  two,  killing  and  wounding  four  men. 
"Trail  arms!"  was  the  immediate  command,  and  the  regi 
ment  moved  on  in  perfect  order. 

On  the  north  bank,  at  the  right  of  the  approach  of 
the  bridge,  the  Federals  had  posted  a  battery  which  im 
mediately  opened  fire  and  silenced  the  Confederate  guns, 
and  we  were  troubled  with  them  no  more.  The  regiment 
filed  to  the  left  from  the  bridge,  came  to  a  front  and 
marched  in  line  up  the  hill  and  into  the  woods.  The  fight 
ing  continued  till  dark.  We  slept  on  our  arms  in  the 
woods  through  the  night  and  a  very  heavy  rainfall  drenched 
us. 


48  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

The  next  morning,  recrossing  the  river,  we  again 
turned  to  the  left,  the  objective  point  being  the  Pamunkey 
River,  a  stream  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  North  and 
South  Anna  Rivers.  We  were  constantly  advancing,  cross 
ing  streams  and  skirmishing,  until  in  the  night  of  June 
first,  when  we  moved  to  the  left  upon  Cold  Harbor,  a  point 
ten  or  eleven  miles  from  Richmond  and  where  roads  cen 
tered  from  Richmond,  White-house,  Besthesda  Church,  and 
Old  Church.  And  from  there  many  roads  diverged  also 
towards  different  crossings  of  the  Chickahominy.  The 
Second  Division  of  Hancock's  Cavalry  (as  the  corps  was 
called  by  reason  of  its  agility),  was  about  the  last  to  reach 
Cold  Harbor. 

The  sun  was  shining  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day 
of  June  when  our  regiment  arrived  and  took  position  on 
the  left.  We  were  the  rear  of  the  corps.  This  second  day 
of  June  was  occupied  in  placing  troops  and  making  prep 
arations  for  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  works.  At  night  all 
was  in  readiness. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third,  at  the  earliest  dawn,  the 
signal  gun  boomed  forth  its  warning.  Our  army  was  at  once 
in  motion.  A  light  rain  was  falling,  and  through  the  dim 
light  we  could  see  the  gray  uniforms,  the  rows  of  shining 
bayonets,  and  the  enemy  serenely  waiting  and  watching  our 
movements  from  behind  strong  fortifications. 

Swiftly  we  advanced.  The  second  division  of  the  Sec 
ond  Corps  occupied  the  left,  and  our  regiment  (Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery),  was  the  extreme  left  of  the  line. 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  49 

We  advanced  over  a  divide  or  rise  of  ground.  Between 
this  high  ground  and  the  enemy's  works  was  a  swamp  in 
which  grew  brush.  The  brush  in  places  had  been  slashed, 
and  in  other  places  the  tops  were  woven  together,  forming 
a  network  which,  with  water  and  mud,  we  were  wading 
through,  in  places  nearly  body  deep,  proved  a  great  ob 
struction  to  our  advancing  army. 

Nearer  the  enemy's  works  the  swamp  grew  wider;  our 
command  became  separated.  The  Company  to  which  I  be 
longed  moved  at  a  left  oblique  into  the  woods  and  onto  the 
higher  ground,  where  we  were  immediately  engaged  with 
the  enemy  in  a  musket  duel  at  short  range.  This  was  the 
right  of  General  Lee's  line  and  seemed  to  be  strongly 
guarded,  but  owing  to  the  large  standing  timber,  the  thick 
underbrush  and  their  strong  earthworks  we  could  not  well 
see  our  opponents.  A  good  deal  of  the  time  our  firing  was 
necessarily  at  random.  There  was  also  thick  and  heavy 
timber  at  our  left  and  rear.  I  feared  an  attack  from  that 
quarter  more  than  our  enemy  in  front.  I  was  afterwards 
informed  that  Sheridan's  Cavalry  was  guarding  our  left 
rear. 

The  morning  light  was  dimmed  with  the  mist  when  we 
began  the  advance.  In  a  moment  the  battle  was  on  and 
raging  terrifically.  The  hour  grew  more  gloomy,  the  air 
seemed  completely  filled  with  screaming,  exploding  shell 
and  shot  of  all  descriptions,  and  our  soldiers  were  falling 
fast.  The  army  seemed  to  melt  away  like  a  frost  in  the 
July  sun.  We  were  located  where  we  could  not  advance 


So  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

further,  neither  could  we  retreat  without  exposing  the  com 
mand  or  ascending  a  rise  of  ground  which  would  expose  us 
to  the  enemy. 

Captain  Ludden  had  led  the  Company  in  the  charge, 
and  in  the  present  exposed  condition  ordered  us  to  lie 
down.  Lying  close  to  the  ground,  some  of  us  loading  and 
firing,  while  others  passed  rails  from  an  old  fence  which 
chanced  to  be  a  few  rods  in  the  rear,  we  placed  the  rails  in 
line  in  front  of  us;  then,  with  bayonet,  knife  or  any  other 
implement  to  be  had,  dug  a  trench,  throwing  the  earth  onto 
the  rails  as  a  protection  against  the  enemy's  musketry. 

In  the  afternoon  when  the  firing  was  more  quiet,  Cap 
tain  Ludden  ventured  in  front  of  our  little  works  to  see 
what  the  Johnnies  were  about.  He  had  gone  but  a  few 
yards  into  the  brush  when  he  discovered  them,  pointing 
their  muskets  in  his  face  and  claiming  him  for  a  prisoner. 
The  Captain,  not  wishing  to  accept  from  the  generous  John 
nies  an  invitation  to  visit  the  Confederate  capital  and  Libby 
prison,  sprang  into  a  clump  of  underbrush  near  by,  the 
Johnnies  sending  a  volley  of  musketry  after  him.  Seizing 
the  opportunity,  he  ran  into  our  works,  reaching  us  un 
injured  but  in  the  midst  of  a  shower  of  bullets.  While  in 
Chicago,  in  the  fall  of  1890,  I  met  Major  Ludden,  (for 
merly  Captain),  and  as  we  were  talking  of  the  days  of  the 
war,  and  the  circumstances  at  Cold  Harbor  were  mentioned, 
he  remarked,  "On  that  day  I  was  a  prisoner  for  just  three 
minutes. ' ' 


NUGGETS  OP  HXPBRIBNCB  51 

We  remained  in  the  hot  sun,  crouched  down  in  the 
little  works  we  had  constructed,  so  close  to  the  enemy  as  to 
be  unable  to  get  to  the  rear  for  water  or  any  necessaries  of 
life  without  a  volley  of  musketry  after  us.  We  ourselves 
were  equally  watchful  of  them.  Sharp  skirmishing  was  a 
frequent  occurrence  on  any  part  of  the  line,  and  no  man 
could  stand  erect  one  single  moment  without  forming  a 
target  for  the  enemy's  guns.  Our  army  struggled,  perse 
vered  and  constructed  works  to  water.  And  here  was  con 
ceived  the  idea  of  the  Zigzag  Trenches,  through  which, 
when  complete,  we  returned  to  our  original  line. 

For  ten  days  and  nights,  in  conversational  distance, 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  confronted  the  flower  of  the 
Armies  of  the  Confederacy,  protected  by  its  strong  barrier. 
Yet  our  men  were  cheerful  and  joked  at  the  enemy's  shot 
and  shell  that  passed  over  them  and  sped  on  its  way, 
possibly  to  disturb  a  chance  coffee  cooler  far  in  the  rear. 

Our  regiment  suffered  severely  in  this  engagement. 
Colonel  Porter  was  killed  early  in  the  fight  while  leading 
the  regiment  in  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  works.  General 
Tyler  was  wounded  and  carried  from  the  field.  Nearly  all 
of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  were  killed  or  wounded.  Of 
the  four  lieutenants  of  Company  L,  we  had  not  one— Cap 
tain  Ludden  alone  was  with  us.  The  loss  to  our  regiment 
at  the  next  roll  call  was  reported  six  hundred  and  eighty- 
four;  later  the  official  report  gave  it  as  five  hundred  and 
five. 


52  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

Horace  Greeley,  in  his  "Great  American  Conflict," 
pays  this  fitting  tribute  to  Colonel  Porter :  ' '  Colonel  Peter 
A.  Porter,  of  Niagara  Falls,  (son  of  General  Peter  B.  Por 
ter,  who  served  with  honor  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was 
Secretary  of  War  under  J.  Q.  Adams),  in  the  prime  of  life 
and  in  the  enjoyment  of  everything  calculated  to  make  life 
desirable,  volunteered  from  a  sense  of  duty,  saying  his 
country  had  done  so  much  for  him  that  he  could  not  hesi 
tate  to  do  all  in  his  power  for  her  in  her  hour  of  peril. 
When  nominated  in  1863  as  Union  Candidate  for  Secre 
tary  of  State,  he  responded  that  his  neighbors  had  intrusted 
him  with  the  lives  of  their  sons  and  he  could  not  leave  them 
while  the  war  lasted.  He  was  but  one  among  thousands 
animated  by  like  motives;  but  none  ever  volunteered  from 
purer  impulses  or  served  with  more  unselfish  devotion  than 
Peter  A.  Porter." 

I  wish  to  say  at  this  point  that  I  have  kept  in  memory 
the  valuable  services  rendered  on  that  battlefield  by  Ser 
geant  Joseph  Shaw,  of  Company  L,  of  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery.  It  was  he  who,  when  others  were 
reluctant,  posted  the  pickets  on  those  dark  nights,  not  only 
of  our  own  regiment  but  also  the  pickets  of  other  regiments. 
The  daring  and  efficient  services  bravely  performed  by  him 
in  the  proximity  of  the  hostile  army  should  have  entitled 
him  at  least  to  consideration  of  meritorious  service. 

This  campaign  was  one  of  hardship  to  us  all,  but  much 
more  fatiguing  to  the  Artillery  regiments  than  to  the 
Veterans  who  were  accustomed  to  field  service,  by  reason  of 


NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB  53 

their  having  so  long  done  garrison  duty.  The  Artillerists 
were  totally  unaccustomed  to  marching  and  outdoor  ex 
posure.  Our  labors  were  unceasing;  marching,  maneuver 
ing,  skirmishing  and  battling  was  the  order  of  the  day  and 
night.  It  seemed  very  clear  that  we  were  going  to  fight  it 
out  on  this  line  if  it  took  many  summers. 


CHAPTER  V 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WILDERNESS— THE  DAWN— GENERAL 

GRANT'S  STRATEGY— SHERMAN  AND  THE  WESTERN  BOYS— 
SHERIDAN  IN  THE  SHENANDOAH— HISTORIC  MARCH— 
CHARGE  THE  ENEMY  *S  WORKS  AT  PETERSBURG— DEATH  OP 
LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  BATES— CAPTAIN  LUDDEN,  A  PRIS 
ONER.,  GOES  TO  RICHMOND  — CAPTAIN  LUDDEN^S  RETURN 
TO  THE  REGIMENT— COLONELS  MURPHY  AND  MCIVER — 
THE  BOYS  IN  THE  BLUE  AND  THE  GRAY. 

At  the  beginning  of  my  soldier  life  I  had  not  the 
slightest  conception  of  the  magnitude  of  the  war;  and  as 
we  now  seemed  to  be  struggling  between  life  and  death 
for  the  supremacy,  without  perceptible  gain,  I  had  no 
thought  of  the  end.  No  matter  where  we  went,  the  enemy 
would  be  found,  bristling  out  before  us  in  his  strong  forti 
fications. 

Information  was  not  easily  obtained  and  it  seemed  to 
me  we  must  go  on  in  this  way  to  the  end  of  time.  I  was 
deep  in  the  shadow  of  the  wilderness,  yet  the  darkest  hour 
was  before  dawn.  We  were  continually  moving  to  the  left 
and  around  the  enemy's  right,  each  move  carrying  our 
lines  farther  South  and  pressing  General  Lee's  army  more 
closely  within  the  last  strongholds  of  the  Confederacy. 


NUGGHTS  OP  EXPERIENCE  55 

General  Grant  was  drawing  his  lines  around  the  Eebel 
armies,  like  the  coiling  of  Time  around  the  human  heart, 
Sherman,  with  his  stalwart  western  boys,  was  successfully 
preparing  the  way  for  his  march  to  the  sea ;  and  the  dash 
ing  Sheridan,  with  his  troopers,  was  soon  to  sweep  like  a 
cyclone  the  foe  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  render  it 
untenable  for  the  life  of  a  single  crow. 

On  the  night  of  the  12th  of  June,  we  left  Cold  Harbor 
and  started  on  the  famous  and  historic  march  for  the  south 
side  of  the  James  Kiver.  This  gratified  one  of  my  greatest 
desires.  It  was  the  one  opportunity  during  my  time  as  a 
soldier  in  the  United  States  service  to  see  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Potomac  in  motion. 

From  the  Wilderness  to  Cold  Harbor  there  was  more 
or  less  skirmishing  and  fighting.  Our  movements  were 
mostly  under  cover  of  heavy  timber.  We  were  unable  to 
see  a  large  portion  of  the  army  at  any  one  time.  From  Cold 
Harbor  to  Petersburg  we  moved  over  an  extensive  open 
plain.  At  one  elevated  point  I  looked  forward  and  back 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  I  was  charmed  with  delight, 
and  gazed  intently  upon  the  vibrating  movements  of  that 
living  column.  It  resembled  the  rippling  waters  of  the 
restless  ocean,  or  the  undulated  appearance  of  endless  grain 
fields,  ripe  in  the  head,  in  the  gentle  breezes  of  summer.  I 
regarded  this  sight  as  one  of  the  greatest  incidents  of  my 
life. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  June  we  were  in  front 
and  south  of  Petersburg.  We  had  been  marching  three 


56  NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIHNCB 

days  and  nights.  On  the  fourth  night,  the  15th  of  June,  we 
were  moving  through  heavy  timber,  feeling  our  way  to 
Petersburg.  We  would  stop,  then  march  a  little  and  stop  a 
few  minutes,  then  march  again.  I  was  very  tired,  and 
with  two  comrades  I  left  the  ranks  and  went  into  the  woods, 
where  we  were  not  disturbed  and  enjoyed  a  good  night's 
sleep.  The  regiment  moved  on  about  a  mile  and  went  into 
camp.  We  went  up  early  in  the  morning.  On  our  way  we 
discovered  a  Confederate  potato  patch  which  the  Yankee 
boys  had  not  yet  visited ;  the  potatoes  were  Irish,  but  they 
were  raised  in  America  and  were  fine  ones.  I  helped  my 
self  to  a  good  supply,  which  I  carried  into  camp  and  with 
them  compromised  matters  with  the  Captain. 

From  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  our  regiment  in  front 
of  Petersburg  we  lay  on  the  south  side  of  a  deep  ravine, 
in  which  there  was  a  good  deal  of  dead  and  fallen  timber, 
until  late  in  the  afternoon.  A  line  of  battle  was  formed; 
our  regiment  fell  in,  marched  to  the  left  and  formed  in  line, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Bates  commanding. 

Immediately  in  our  front  the  ground  which  we  must 
pass  was  open,  with  a  gradual  descent  to  a  shallow  ravine  or 
dry  run.  This  was  about  three  hundred  yards  from  us, 
with  a  bank  on  the  opposite  side,  a  few  trees  lining  its  edge, 
and  beyond,  an  old  cornfield.  Along  this  ravine,  under 
the  protection  of  the  trees,  the  Confederates  had  posted  a 
strong  skirmish  line,  under  whose  continuous  musketry 
fire  our  battle  line  was  formed. 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  57 

At  six  o'clock  the  signal  for  the  advance  was  given. 
Captain  Ludden,  with  a  smile,  stepped  in  front  and  led 
the  charge.  We  went  on  a  run,  not  firing  a  shot  until  reach 
ing  the  Confederate  skirmish  line,  but  swept  over  the  de 
scending  ground  like  an  avalanche.  We  crossed  the  ravine 
and  gained  a  position  on  the  cornfield.  The  Confederates 
fell  back  behind  their  strong  works  and  kept  up  a  brisk 
firing  for  some  hours. 

We  lay  on  the  ground  among  the  old  corn  hills,  under 
the  artillery  and  musketry  fire,  until  night  spread  its  man 
tle  of  darkness  over  the  field.  When  all  was  still  save  the 
picket  firing,  we  began  building  breastworks.  All  night  the 
men  worked  with  pick  and  shovel.  Not  a  word  was  spoken ; 
not  a  whisper  did  I  hear.  When  the  sun  arose  next  morn 
ing  it  shone  brightly  on  the  resulting  works,  a  brief  protec 
tion  for  our  heroes,  all  along  the  line. 

The  casualties  in  this  charge  were  less  numerous  than 
in  previous  engagements.  Lieatenant  Colonel  Bates  was 
killed  in  the  advance,  being  the  second  regimental  com 
mander  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  had  lost 
in  the  past  thirteen  days.  Some  soldiers  were  killed  and 
a  few  were  wounded. 

The  following  day,  June  17th,  we  again  moved  for 
ward,  established  a  line  and  built  new  works  where  we  had 
a  view  of  Petersburg's  church  spires. 

On  June  22d,  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's  posi 
tion  farther  to  the  left,  Captain  S.  D.  Ludden  was  captured 
and  taken  to  Richmond  and  confined  in  Libby  Prison,  from 


58  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

which  he  escaped  twice,  and  after  tramping  (as  later  the 
Major  related  to  me)  three  hundred  and  forty  miles  in 
the  enemy's  country,  concealing  himself  in  the  woods  and 
brush  through  the  day,  depending  on  the  slaves  for  some 
thing  to  eat  to  keep  life  in,  and  to  be  guided  on  his  way  at 
night  by  them,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Union  lines; 
he  went  home  to  his  people  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
he  visited  a  few  days,  and  then  returned  to  the  regiment 
for  duty  September  8th,  1864,  the  regiment  then  being 
near  Petersburg. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1864,  by  reason 
of  hard  service,  and  our  number  being  greatly  reduced,  (to 
438),  we  had  no  officer  left  us  ranking  higher  than  Captain. 
The  responsibilities  of  our  regiment  were  then  entrusted 
to  the  care  of  Colonels  Murphy  and  MHver,  who  com 
manded  alternately,  though  I  have  no  recollection  of  either 
of  these  Colonels  commanding  the  regiment  in  battle,  but 
we  more  frequently  saw  Mclver  than  Murphy. 

Now,  I  would  not  say  that  Murphy  was  not  an  Irish 
man,  but  Mclver  was  a  typical  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle ;  he 
was  said  to  have  been  a  schoolmaster  somewhere  in  the  State 
of  New  York  before  the  war,  and  a  Governor's  appoint 
ment  to  the  army.  However,  there  was  one  distinctive  qual 
ity  in  his  makeup  we  could  safely  bet  on,— that  he  always 
maintained  a  magnificent  appetite  for  the  Commissary's 
beverage  and  we  seldom,  if  ever,  saw  him  without  its  influ 
ence  ;  it  was  a  common  occurrence  with  the  boys  to  express 
a  desire  to  share  the  Colonel's  sickness  and  medicine. 


NUGGHTS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH  59 

On  one  particular  occasion  he  went  with  the  regiment 
into  the  forest  for  the  purpose  of  slashing  and  felling  tim 
ber  to  entangle  the  footsteps  of  the  Johnnies  should  they 
attempt  to  come  in  at  our  left  rear.  We  had  been  working 
some  hours  when  we  were  ordered  to  discontinue  the  work 
and  return  to  our  guns.  When  we  lined  up  behind  our 
musket  stacks  it  seemed  very  clear  to  us,  that  during  our 
absence  the  Colonel  had  had  a  spirited  engagement  with  his 
beloved  Commissary  Department  and  the  beverage  had  got 
the  better  of  him.  Unsettled  in  his  saddle  he  appeared  be 
fore  us,  reeling  from  side  to  side  of  his  horse.  He  com 
manded:  "Now  lit  yiz  fall  in!  Now  lit  yiz  stand  fasht! 
Now  don't  lit  yiz  stir!  Don't  lit  yiz  break  the  stacks  till 
yiz  take  arms ! ' ' 

Sometimes  the  Colonel  would  be  more  heavily  bur 
dened  than  others,  and  occasionally  he  would  take  on  a 
hypnotic  jag;  at  such  times  he  would  be  confined  to  his 
tent,  and  his  loud  and  profanely  educated  voice  would  fur 
nish  a  sufficient  entertainment  for  the  entire  camp.  Later 
the  Colonel  passed  from  my  sight,  and  I  do  not  remember 
seeing  him  in  my  last  days  with  the  regiment. 

The  Siege  of  Petersburg  was  long  and  laborious.  We 
were  ever  on  the  alert,  and  we  cannot  forget  that  our  time 
was  fully  occupied  with  the  many  requirements,— strug 
gling  for  position,  trenching  and  mining,  advancing  the 
line,  building  new  works  and  maning  them,  with  an  oc 
casional  excursion  to  the  Wheldon  and  Southside  Railroads. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  the  loEg  and  continuous  contest  about 


60  NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB 

Petersburg,  the  determination  exhibited  in  battle  and  the 
tenaciously  held  positions,  there  was  presented  between  the 
battles  an  inclination  to  friendliness,— ay,  there  existed  a 
sympathy  towards  each  other  never  known  before  in  the 
history  of  the  wars,  among  soldiers  of  two  hostile  armies. 
We  talked  freely  back  and  forth  on  politics  and  of  the 
aspiring  candidates,  and  the  flying  of  white  flags  on  our 
earthworks  became  a  frequent  practice  with  us.  So  close 
were  the  opposing  works  in  those  days  of  long  ago,  that  we 
often  enjoyed  exchanging  visits  midway  between  the  lines, 
when  friendly  salutations  were  exchanged  and  good  feeling 
manifested. 

"  The  Yanks  gave  the  Johnnies  coffee, 

Which  they  'declared  for  months  they  had  not  seen; 

The  Johnnies  gave  the  Yanks  tobacco  in  return, 

And  in  a  brotherly  way, 

The  boys  in  the  blue  and  the  gray 

Drank  from  the  same  canteen." 


Battle  of  Ibatcber's  IRun 

(Boston  IRoafc) 
October  27tb  an&  28tbt  1864 


CHAPTER  VI 


LEAVING  THE  LINE  IN  FRONT  OF  PETERSBURG— MY  DIFFICUL 
TIES—THE  NEW  RECRUIT— ON  THE  FLANK— CAPTAIN 
LUDDEN  IN  COMMAND  OF  THE  REGIMENT— DEATH  OF 
LIEUTENANT  FELLOWS— OFFICERS  ASSEMBLE— REBEL  BAT 
TERY  OPENS  FIRE  ON  THE  HOUSE— THE  BOYS  ON  HORSE— 
WE  CHARGE  THE  ENEMY— THE  REBEL  PRISONER— TWO 
BRIGADES  TO  THE  REAR— MEMORIES  OF  GENERAL  GRANT- 
BILLY  MCCABE— THE  RETROGRADE  MARCH— THE  WOUNDED 
LIEUTENANT— RETURN  TO  THE  LINE  IN  FRONT  OF  PETERS 
BURG. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  as  a  soldier  to  be  a  member  of 
the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  but  I  am  not  egotis 
tical  enough  to  think  our  regiment  did  the  most  effective 
iervice  of  all  regiments,  neither  do  I  think  the  war  would 
not  have  successfully  terminated  without  us,  but  I  do  think 
we  had,  in  every  respect,  a  splendid  collection  of  moral 
young  men,  who  were  of  good  families;  that  we  did  our 
duty  as  well  as  we  could,  and  averaged  fairly  well  with 
other  regiments  as  volunteer  citizen  soldiers. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th  of  October  our  regiment 
left  the  line  in  front  of  Petersburg  and  made  a  forced 
march  toward  Hatcher's  Eun,  the  object  being  to  join  our 


64  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

corps,  (the  Second),  and  participate  in  a  flank  movement 
to  the  left  for  the  capture  of  the  Southside  Railroad,  which, 
if  successful,  would  completely  block  the  Confederate  com 
munications  with  the  farther  South,  and  would  prevent 
General  Lee  from  sending  reinforcements  to  General  Hood, 
whose  army  was  then  being  driven  about  promiscuously 
through  Georgia  by  General  Sherman. 

I  had  been  stricken  with  fever,  and  although  I  had 
for  a  number  of  weeks  performed  the  general  routine,  and 
my  allotted  duty  with  the  regiment,  I  was  greatly  emaciated 
and  seemingly  could  regain  no  strength.  The  fever  had 
settled  in  my  limbs,  and  my  legs  refused  to  carry  my  body. 
When  passing  over  uneven  or  descending  ground  with 
necessary  accoutrements,  I  was  sure  to  fall  to  my  knees, 
and  my  comrades  often  remarked  my  awkward  appearance. 
So  severe  were  my  sufferings  on  that  march,  with  my  weak 
and  painful  joints,  that  I  found  it  an  agonizing  difficulty 
to  keep  position  and  pace  with  the  rapidly  moving  column. 
Had  we  been  compelled  to  run  to  avoid  capture,  I  would 
certainly  have  become  a  victim  of  Andersonville,  or  such 
like  horror,  and  suffered  the  fate  of  many  and  many  a 
Union  soldier  who  perished,  inch  by  inch,  under  the  in 
human  cruelty  of  the  system  practiced  in  the  Rebel  starving 
corrals.  A  kindness  of  Captain  Ludden  greatly  aided  me 
through  that  fatiguing  expedition.  I  had  been  a  close 
friend  of  Captain  Ludden 's  from  our  first  meeting.  I  never 
knew  him  to  use  or  handle  liquor  and  I  was  not  a  liquor 
drinker  myself.  On  this  occasion  there  was  procured  and 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  65 

carried  with  the  Company  a  canteen  of  liquid,— which  I 
thought  was  not  all  water;  the  medicine  was  administered 
to  me  (and  one  other  sick  boy)  in  homeopathic  doses;  it 
seemed  to  so  strengthen  my  weakened  body  as  to  enable  me 
to  endure  the  hardship. 

We  hurried  along  over  the  narrow  roads,  hastily  cut 
through  the  timber  by  the  pioneers,  and  when  night  fell  it 
was  very  dark  in  the  deep  forest.  It  was  late  when  a  small 
clearing  was  reached,  where  we  were  allowed  to  lie  down 
for  rest.  Oh,  how  sweet  were  the  sleeps  of  those  vigilant 
and  toilsome  times!  We  were  called  before  light  to  arise 
and  cook  coffee  before  recommencing  our  march. 

We  had  with  us  a  new  recruit  who  had  recently  joined 
the  Company.  He  had  never  before  been  on  a  march  with 
us  and  evidently  he  had  neglected  to  acquaint  himself  with 
the  short  order  meal  system.  Most  of  us  had  drank  coffee 
and  were  ready  for  duty  when  the  order  came  to  fall  in  line, 
but  our  new  recruit  had  only  begun  to  gather  fuel  to  cook 
his  coffee.  The  Sergeant  called  to  him  to  fall  in  line,  when 
the  recruit  exclaimed,  '  *  I  can 't  go  this  time !  I  haven 't  had 
a  bit  of  breakfast  yet!"  This  brought  a  laugh  from  the 
boys  and  the  recruit  got  quickly  into  line.  The  Company 
was  soon  in  its  place,  and  the  regiment  was  on  the  move. 

We  had  not  gone  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  when 
I  heard  the  right  of  the  regiment  skirmishing  sharply  for 
a  few  moments.  The  rear  companies  pressed  forward  as 
rapidly  as  possible  through  the  narrow  road  in  the  thick 
underbrush,  but  slightly  cut.  What  the  obstruction  was  I 

6 


66  NUGGHTS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

did  not  learn,  but  the  right  of  way  was  secured  and  the 
regiment  moved  on. 

We  soon  passed  out  of  the  thick  timber  onto  an  opening 
thickly  dotted  with  low  pine  shrubs.  Company  L  was  the 
extreme  left  of  the  regiment,  and  its  rear  platoon,  under 
command  of  Sergeant  Joseph  Shaw,  was  ordered  into  the 
woods  to  guard  the  left  flank  and  I  was  consigned  to  respon 
sibilities  of  the  most  advanced  picket  post.  Captain  Lud- 
den  was  assigned  to  command  the  regiment  during  the  bat 
tle,  and  Company  L  was  under  the  command  of  Lieuten 
ant  Darwin  Fellows.  Fellows  was  the  first  Orderly  Ser 
geant  of  the  Company.  He  was  young  and  possessed  fine, 
manly  qualities ;  always  cheerful  in  his  duties,  his  smiling 
face  and  genial  appearance  never  failed  to  bring  sunshine 
among  his  associates.  He  had  been  wounded  early  in  the 
campaign  of  that  year  and  had  returned  to  the  regiment  for 
duty  but  a  few  days  before  starting  on  our  Hatcher's  Run 
raid,  and  with  this  eventful  day  terminated  his  soldiering 
on  earth.  On  that  bloody  field  he  fought  his  last  battle; 
he  passed  to  the  Beyond  and  joined  the  silent  majority. 

We  remained  on  the  flank  until  near  midday,  when  we 
received  orders  to  call  in  the  pickets  and  join  our  com 
mand,  which  was  soon  to  take  part  in  a  general  forward 
movement.  After  arriving  on  the  battle  line  we  were  stand 
ing  awaiting  orders,  when  the  officers  on  horseback,  as 
many  as  ten  or  twelve  in  number,  assembled  for  consulta 
tion  near  us  and  in  the  rear  of  a  small  dwelling  house.  A 
Confederate  battery  immediately  opened  fire  on  the  house, 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPHRlUNCn  67 

when  the  officers  were  compelled  to  quickly  fly  in  all  direc 
tions.  I  think  there  were  no  officers  hurt;  a  few  soldiers 
and  some  of  our  regiment  who  were  near  the  house  were 
killed,  and  some  were  wounded,  and  we  all  went  to  the 
ground.  Sergeant  Ewell,  of  Company  L,  had  an  arm 
severed  at  the  elbow,  which  resulted  in  his  death  a  few  days 
later. 

Our  line  of  battle  was  formed  athwart  the  Boydton 
Road.  This  road  was  a  public  highway  in  time  of  peace  and 
was  protected  on  each  side  by  an  old-fashioned  rail  fence. 
The  land  at  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  for  some  dis 
tance,  and  to  the  Run  in  our  front,  was  clear.  We  formed 
in  line  at  the  right  of  the  road  between  the  house  I  have 
mentioned,  a  small,  unpainted  house  on  the  left,  and  a  small 
rough  looking  barn  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  about  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  bridge  where  the  Boydton  Road 
crosses  the  Run,  and  where  the  Confederates  held  their 
works. 

Hatcher's  Run  is  a  small  stream  rising  at  or  near  the 
Southside  Railroad,  and  when  it  is  supplied  with  a  sufficient 
amount  of  water  it  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  and 
empties  into  the  Rowanty  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Nott- 
away. 

While  we  were  lying  awaiting  orders,  the  Confederate 
skirmish  line  advanced  and  commenced  firing  on  us.  With 
out  orders  we  fired  on  them.  A  squadron  of  cavalry  was 
then  brought  up  to  hold  the  skirmishers  back,  but  it  ap 
peared  to  me  they  were  not  anxious  to  participate  in  the 


68  NUGGETS  OP  HXPBRIBNCB 

game.  These  cavalrymen,  for  some  mysterious  cause, 
seemed  reluctant  to  go  forward ;  though  they  were  once  in 
duced  to  go  out  in  front  of  the  barn,  they  could  not  be  got 
ten  into  line  nor  to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  and  the  man  who 
seemed  to  be  in  command  was  not  more  eager  to  combat 
than  were  the  others.  When  his  men  were  crowding  like 
a  flock  of  scared  sheep  with  wolves  on  all  sides,  I  heard  him 
say  to  them, ' '  Now,  hold  the  line  firm ! "  He  then  put  spurs 
to  his  horse  and  galloped  to  the  rear.  One  trooper  re 
ceived  a  slight  wound  and  the  entire  squadron  helped  the 
wounded  man  back  behind  the  lines,  and  I  saw  them  no 
more. 

My  dear  Comrades,  I  have  never  doubted  the  bravery 
and  good  soldierly  qualities  of  those  men  under  the  com 
mand  of  a  gallant  and  efficient  officer,  and  in  noting  these 
details  I  would  not  have  one  feel  that  I  would  censure  the 
cavalry.  It  was  an  act  in  the  drama,  and  to  me  it  was  an 
amusing  incident.  So  deeply  was  I  absorbed  in  the  maneu 
vers  of  those  boys  on  horse,  that  I  sat  intently  watching 
them,  and  had  forgotten  the  Eebel  skirmishers,  until  I  was 
aroused  from  my  reverie  by  the  flying  bullets  about  us  and 
the  knowledge  of  wounds  received  by  two  comrades  who  were 
very  near  me.  I  have  no  inclination  to  speak  disparaging 
ly  of  my  comrades;  I  only  wish  to  mention  what  I  saw  while 
we  were  there  under  fire.  I  am  grateful  to  the  cavalry  for 
their  unfailing  devotion  to  the  cause ;  I  know  that  arm  did 
a  great  deal  of  effective  service  and  much  to  hasten  the  end 
of  the  conflict. 


NUGGHTS  OP  BXPHRIBNCB  69 

When  the  cavalry  left  our  front,  the  Confederates  had 
advanced  within  about  one  hundred  yards  of  us  and  we 
were  ordered  to  charge  them.  We  moved  forward  at  the 
right  of  the  road,  firing  as  we  went.  The  Confederates 
made  a  brief  stand,  but  as  we  drew  nearer  they  ran  away 
and  left  us  their  works.  Some  of  us  crossed  over  from  the 
right  to  the  left  of  the  road  and  occupied  the  works  at 
the  left  of  the  bridge  crossing  the  Run.  The  remainder  of 
the  regiment  occupied  the  defenceless  line  at  the  right  of 
the  road. 

When  the  heat  of  the  charge  had  abated  and  we  were 
in  possession  of  the  Confederate  works,  I  discovered  a 
Rebel  a  short  distance  in  front  of  us,  who  evidently  had  not 
gotten  a  good  send-away  with  the  others,  and  was  left  at  the 
post.  He  was  hiding  behind  an  old  and  barkless  stump 
of  a  tree  that  was  so  near  the  color  of  his  dirty  gray  uniform 
that  it  was  difficult  to  decide  whether  he  was  a  man  or  a 
twin  stump.  After  considering  the  matter  a  few  moments, 
I  raised  my  Springfield  and  invited  the  Johnny  into  our 
lines,— an  invitation  he  so  meekly  and  politely  accepted 
that  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  better  pleased  to 
be  a  prisoner  in  the  Federal  lines  than  to  be  a  soldier  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Confederates. 

After  turning  my  prisoner  over  to  the  guard  to  be  taken 
to  the  rear,  I  engaged  in  firing  on  a  Confederate  battery 
located  in  the  woods  and  near  the  road.  It  was  immediately 
in  front  of  us  and  was  trying  to  shell  us  out.  Artillery 
and  musket  firing  was  again  begun  and  was  impetuously 


70  NUGGBTS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB 

kept  up,  and  we  were  kept  on  the  alert.  Rain  was  falling, 
and  the  Condeferates  were  continually  making  demonstra 
tions  on  our  front.  Four  different  times  they  charged  us, 
and  four  different  times  we  sent  them  hastily  back  to 
shelter. 

We  could  hear  the  constantly  running  trains  on  the 
Southside  and  Wheldon  Railways,  hurrying  forward  Con 
federate  troops  from  Richmond  and  Petersburg  until  our 
little  army  was  almost  surrounded.  The  steady  roar  of 
musketry  was  now  kept  up  on  our  right  and  rear ;  our  left 
rear  was  a  dense  forest ;  we  still  had  a  strong  force  in  our 
front,  and  the  coming  result  was  a  conundrum  difficult  to 
solve.  Some  brigades  were  forced  to  face  to  the  right  and 
charge  the  enemy;  while  two  brigades  of  noble  fellows, 
to  whom  we  were  largely  indebted  for  deliverance  from 
that  cowpen,  were  compelled  to  face  to  the  rear  and  fight, 
as  only  Americans  cant  and  after  a  severe  and  prolonged 
struggle  they  succeeded  in  repulsing  a  large  part  of  Hill's 
corps  that  had  captured  a  Federal  battery,  recapturing  our 
lost  guns,  taking  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  several 
Confederate  flags,  and  opening  an  avenue  to  the  rear.  And 
Night  was  again  upon  us! 

*Memoirs  of  Gen.  Grant,  Vol.   II,   Pages  586-7. 

"The  second  corps,  followed  by  two  divisions  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  with  the  cavalry  in  advance  and  covering  our  left  flank, 
forced  a  passage  at  Hatcher's  Run,  and  moved  up  the  south  side 
of  it  towards  the  Southside  Railroad,  until  the  Second  Corps  and 
part  of  the  cavalry  reached  the  Boydton  Plank  Road  where  it 


MCABE  DEFYING  THE  JOHNNIES. 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  73 

crossed  Hatcher's  Run.  At  this  point  we  were  six  miles  distant 
from  the  Southside  Railroad,  which  I  had  hoped  by  this  move 
ment  to  reach  and  hold,  but  finding  that  we  had  not  reached 
the  end  of  the  enemy's  fortifications,  and  no  place  presenting 
itself  for  a  successful  assault  by  which  he  might  be  doubled  up 
and  shortened,  I  determined  to  withdraw  within  our  fortified  line. 
Orders  were  given  accordingly.  Immediately  upon  receiving  a 
report  that  General  Warren  had  connected  with  General  Han 
cock,  I  returned  to  my  headquarters.  Soon  after  I  left,  the 
enemy  moved  out  across  Hatcher's  Run  in  the  gap  between 
Generals  Hancock  and  Warren,  which  was  not  closed  as  re 
ported,  and  made  a  desperate  attack  on  General  Hancock's 
right  and  rear.  General  Hancock  immediately  faced  his  corps 
to  meet  it,  and  after  a  bloody  combat  drove  the  enemy  within 
his  works  and  withdrew  that  night  to  his  old  position." 

The  works  we  had  captured  on  the  Run  were  a  trench 
with  earth  banked  up  about  three  feet  high.  Late  in  the 
afternoon,  when  the  enemy  had  ceased  charging  our  front 
and  the  fight  was  raging  on  our  right  and  rear,  Billy  Mc- 
Cabe,  of  the  Eighth  New  York,  cooked  coffee  and  declared 
he  would  sit  on  the  embankment  and  drink  it,  and  defy 
the  Johnnies  to  hit  him.  This  was  an  act  entirely  uncalled 
for  and  some  of  us  strongly  opposed  it,  but  all  our  re 
monstrances  proved  of  no  avail.  He,  with  tin  cup  in  hand, 
climbed  upon  the  works  and  there  seated  himself,  with  his 
feet  hanging  down  towards  the  enemy.  He  was  sipping  his 
coffee,  apparently  as  unconcerned  as  if  at  home  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  enjoying  a  day  with  a  picnic  party. 
The  bullets  were  flying  around  him,  and  occasionally  some- 


74  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

one  would  say,  " Billy,  you  had  better  come  in!"  but  he 
was  heedless  of  all  warnings.  Later,  a  bullet  passed 
through  the  sleeve  of  his  blouse,  yet  he  sat  unmoved,  and 
when  he  had  finished  his  coffee  he  leisurely  climbed  down 
and  walked  in,  unhurt. 

We  held  our  position  at  the  Run  until  after  dark, 
when  fire  was  started  on  different  parts  of  the  field  and  our 
retrograde  march  through  the  thick  woods  was  begun. 
What  a  march  we  experienced!  Rain  had  fallen  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  day  and  the  ground  was  soft  in  the 
timber,  and  badly  cut  up  by  the  moving  cavalry  and  artil 
lery  that  had  passed  before  us.  The  night  was  one  of  the 
darkest  of  history;  nothing  could  be  seen  on  our  road 
through  the  forest,— not  a  star  in  the  heavens  nor  an  open 
ing  in  the  clouds  above  us.  I  have  thought  that  night 
would  have  fairly  compared  with  the  description  a 
Canadian  once  gave  me  of  the  darkest  thing  he  ever  saw, 
which  he  related  in  this  way : 

"The  darkest  scene  of  my  life  I  experienced  when  I 
was  one  night  in  Montreal,  a  good  many  years  ago.  In 
those  days  there  were  no  street  lights  of  any  kind  and  the 
business  places  were  lighted  with  tallow  candles.  It  was 
the  dark  of  the  moon  and  there  was  not  a  star  to  be  seen ; 
the  clouds  were  low,  dark  and  threatening,  and  in  the  dark 
ness  appeared  a  black  man  dressed  in  black,  bereft  of  sight, 
and  with  a  dark  lantern.  He  was  searching  a  dark  al 
ley  for  a  family  of  black  cats." 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  75 

Nevertheless,  we  wandered  on  through  the  woods  un 
til  daybreak.  The  morning  sun  was  bright  and  the  day 
was  clear  and  pleasant,  with  the  dust  settled  and  the  at 
mosphere  much  improved  by  the  refreshing  rain.  Late  in 
the  morning  I  came  up  with  some  soldiers  of  our  regiment 
who  were  resting  with  a  stretcher  at  the  roadside.  Upon 
inquiring  the  meaning,  I  was  informed  that  Lieutenant 
George  Rector,  of  Company  F,  had  the  day  before  been 
seriously  wounded,  and  up  to  that  time  no  ambulance 
could  be  obtained.  Those  boys  had  carried  the  disabled 
comrade  all  through  that  dark  night,  hoping  to  place  him 
in  a  doctor's  care,  and  they  were  well-nigh  exhausted. 
Lieutenants  E.  K.  Sage,  George  Freelove  and  one  other 
comrade,  all  of  Company  L,  volunteered,  and  assisted 
Company  F's  boys,  and  they  carried  the  Lieutenant  sev 
eral  miles  further,  when  a  conveyance  was  secured  to  take 
him  to  the  hospital. 

On  the  night  of  the  29th  of  October  we  were  again 
back  on  the  line  in  front  of  Petersburg. 


CHAPTER  VII 


Some  of  the   Reasons  Why  the  Comrades  are  Clinging  Together 

Today. 

Thirty-nine  years  have  come  and  gone  since  the  date 
that  appears  at  the  head  of  this  narrative,  and  yet  it  seems 
not  long  ago  when  we  were  engulfed  in  the  depths  of  a 
cruel  Civil  War,  and  the  loyal  men  all  over  the  land  were 
associated  together  in  arms  for  the  preservation  of  the  life 
and  integrity  of  our  country.  We  hope  those  days  may 
never  come  again.  They  are  long  past.  But  the  occur 
rences  are  still  retained  in  the  memory  of  the  surviving 
participants;  and  to  me,  even  in  these  late  days,  there  is 
no  literature  more  interesting  and  entertaining,  though 
there  are  many  sad  features  to  look  upon,  than  the  reminis 
cences  of  the  truly  war-experienced  comrades  of  the  stormy 
days  of  the  sixties.  On  the  minds  of  those  tried  veterans 
are  indelibly  stamped  the  sufferings  and  privations  under 
gone  for  love  of  country,— their  true  and  unfailing  affec 
tion  for  Freedom  and  Union. 

While  there  were  some  amusements  in  camp  life,  of 
which  we  knew  but  little  in  the  last  year  of  the  war,  there 
were  the  experiences  of  all  kinds  of  weather ;  the  hardships 
and  exposures  of  the  long,  hurried  marches  through  the 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  77 

rain,  snow  and  mud,  or  the  broiling  sun  and  stifling  dust; 
the  vigilant  and  sleepless  nights;  and  we  will  say  nothing 
of  meeting  our  opponents,  and  the  heroic  and  chivalrous 
deeds  performed  on  the  many  battlefields;  all  of  which 
are  realized  and  thoroughly  understood  only  by  the  war- 
experienced  veterans.  How  their  old  blood  runs  young 
again  and  their  dim  eyes  grow  bright  as  they  relate  their 
adventurous  experiences  to  each  other  and  mentally  fight 
over  anew  the  battles  of  long  gone  days ! 

These  are  some  of  the  reasons  why  the  comrades  who 
fought  in  that  bloody  war  are  clinging  together  today,  and 
why  they  like  to  meet  at  the  Post,  and  why  they  enjoy 
attending  the  annual  Encampment.  There  they  meet  their 
old  and  grizzled-haired  comrades,  who,  when  but  boys  long 
years  ago,  had  shared  their  fortunes  in  war,  and  had  stood 
by  them  in  the  fight  amid  the  storms  of  raking  shot  and 
shell,  and  together  they  followed  "Old  Glory V  stream 
ing  colors  into  the  gaping  jaws  of  Hell! 

Those  are  the  heroes  who  protected  our  country's  flag 
and  bore  it  in  triumph  from  many  a  battlefield,  crimson 
and  gory,  and  whose  valor  saved  the  Nation  from  shame 
and  disgrace,  and  placed  it  in  safety  and  honor,  on  its  il 
lustrious  pedestal  of  glory! 


Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery 

(129th  Infantry) 

Volunteers 

OFFICIAL  REPORTS 

COMPILED  FROM  THE  SERIES  OF  VOLUMES  OFFICIAL  RECORDS 

OF  THE 
UNION  AND  CONFEDERATE  ARMIES 

WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION 


Published  Under  the  Directions  of  the 

HON.  DANIEL  S.  LAMONT. 

Secretary  of  War, 

1893. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

£> 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  22nd,  1862. 
HON.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secy,  of  War. 

Sir: 

Will  the  War  Dept.  turn  over  to  me,  for  immediate 

issue,  10,000  Springfield  rifled  muskets  with  accoutrements? 
If  this  is  done  I  will  endeavor  to  obtain  the  consent  of 
our  State  Comptroller  to  issue  to  our  troops  an  equal  num 
ber  of  Enfield,  caliber  .58,  provided  the  Government  will 
immediately  reimburse  the  State  cost  and  charges  therefor. 
We  have  no  infantry  accoutrements;  those  offered  to  me 
by  Captain  Crispin  are  not  adapted  to  our  arms. 

The  lllth  (Auburn)  Col.  Segoine,  passed  here  this 
morning.  The  117th  (Rome)  Col.  Pearce,  is  just  leaving 
the  Albany  dock.  The  120th  (Kingston)  Col.  Sharp,  and 
129th  (Lockport)  Col.  Porter,  both  leave  camp  tomorrow, 
the  former  via  New  York,  the  latter  via  Elmira.  Others 
will  follow  as  fast  as  railroad  can  transfer  them. 

E.  D.  MORGAN. 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  23,  >62. 
HON.  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,   Secy,  of  War: 

The  117th  Reg't.  Col.  Pearce,  passed  this  city  last 
evening  en  route  for  Washington.  The  129th  regiment 


82  NUGGHTS  OF  BXPHRIBNCB 

left  Lockport  for  Washington,  via  Elmira,  at  2  P.  M.  to 
day. 

THOS.  HILLHOUSE,  Adjt.  General. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  New 
York  Volunteer  Infantry,  Col.  Peter  A.  Porter,  Lieut.  Col. 
W.  W.  Bates,  arrived  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  August,  1862 ;  was 
transformed  into  Artillery  December,  1862,  and  was  after 
wards  known  as  the  Eighth  Regiment,  New  York  Volun 
teer  Heavy  Artillery. 

It  was  brigaded  January  31st,  1863,  with  Eighth 
Army  Corps,  headquarters  Cockeyville.  Forts,  Federal 
Hill,  McHenry  and  Marshall  and  York,  Pennsylvania. 
Department  of  Baltimore,  defenses  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

EIGHTH    NEW    YORK    HEAVY   ARTILLERY   JOINS    SECOND    ARMY 
CORPS  AT  SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

May  17th,  1864,  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artil 
lery  joined  the  Second  Division,  Second  Army  Corps.  May 
19th,  by  special  order  No.  139,  Tyler's  Division,  consisting 
of  the  First  Maine,  First  Massachusetts,  Second,  Seventh 
and  Eighth  Regiments  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  and 
Thirty-sixth  Regiment  Wisconsin  Infantry,  was  assigned 
to  the  second  Army  Corps. 

May  29th  the  Corcoran  Legion  and  Eighth  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery  were  formed  into  a  Fourth  Brigade  of  the 
Second  Division,  Second  Army  Corps,  and  later  the  Eighth 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery  joined  the  Second  Brigade  of 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  83 

the  Second  Division.    With  this  command  it  participated  in 
the  following  battles: 

Spottsylvania,  May  19th;  North  Anna  River,  May 
23d  and  24th ;  Tolopotomy,  May  28th,  29th,  30th,  and  June 
1st;  Cold  Harbor,  June  2d  to  12th;  Petersburg,  (charge,) 
June  16th;  Siege  of  Petersburg;  Jerusalem  Road,  June 
22d,  23d  and  24th;  Deep-bottom,  July  28th  and  29th; 
Strawberry  Plains,  August  14th  and  15th;  Deep-bottom, 
August  16th,  17th,  18th  and  19th;  Ream  Station,  August 
25th;  Hatcher's  Run,  (Boydton  Road,)  October  27th  and 
28th;  with  numerous  skirmishes  and  engagements  of  less 
importance. 

OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GEN.   JOHN  GIBSON,  COM*D  2o  DI 
VISION,  2ND  ARMY  CORPS. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  COLD  HARBOR. 

May  27th  left  North  Anna  for  Pamunkey  River ;  cross 
ed  next  day,  near  Hanover.  Took  position  on  the  left.  On 
the  30th  took  position  on  Tolopotmy  Creek,  driving  the 
enemy's  skirmishers;  next  day  advanced.  Constant  skir 
mishing  and  cannonading  was  going  on  in  our  front  until 
the  night  of  the  first  of  June,  when  the  division  was  with 
drawn  and  reached  Cold  Harbor  the  next  morning  at  six 
o'clock.  Took  position  on  left  of  Sixth  Corps.  The  loss 
to  the  Division  in  the  assault  was  sixty-five  officers  and  1032 
men  killed  and  wounded.  The  gallant  Col.  Porter,  Eighth 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  fell  only  a  few  yards  from  the 


84  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

enemy's  works,  surrounded  by  the  dead  of  his  regiment, 
which,  although  new  to  the  work,  fought  like  veterans. 

From  the  third  to  the  twelfth  the  Division,  in  perfect 
ing  position  and  pushing  forward  works  toward  the  enemy, 
was  constantly  under  fire  both  cannon  and  musketry,  day  and 
night,  losing  some  280  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded. 
During  these  twelve  days  the  labors  and  military  duty  of 
the  Division  were  of  the  hardest  kind  and  performed  under 
the  most  disadvantageous  circumstances,  confined  for  ten 
days  in  narrow  trenches  with  no  water  to  wash  with  and 
none  to  drink  except  that  obtained  at  the  risk  of  losing  life ; 
unable  to  obey  a  call  of  nature  or  to  stand  erect  without 
forming  target  for  hostile  bullets,  and  subject  to  the  heat 
and  dust  of  midsummer  which  soon  produced  sickness  and 
vermin,  the  position  was  indeed  a  trying  one,  but  all  bore 
it  cheerfully  and  contentedly,  constructed  covered  ways 
down  to  the  water  and  to  the  rear  and  joked  at  the  hostile 
bullets  as  they  whistled  over  their  heads  to  find,  perhaps, 
a  less  protected  target  far  in  the  rear  of  the  lines.  I  re 
gard  this  as  having  been  the  most  trying  period  of  this 
most  trying  campaign. 

To  give  some  idea  in  regard  to  the  losses  and  services 
of  the  Division  during  this  eventful  campaign,  it  becomes 
necessary  to  refer  to  certain  facts. 

The  Division  left  camp  May  3d,  with  three  brigades, 
numbering  in  the  aggregate  6,799.  At  Spottsylvania  Court 
house,  May  16th,  it  was  joined  by  the  Corcoran  Legion, 
1,521,  and  the  Thirty-sixth  Wisconsin,  Col.  F.  A.  Haskell, 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  85 

765;  on  the  next  day  by  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Ar 
tillery,  Col.  Peter  A.  Porter,  1,654,  and  during  the  first 
two  weeks  in  June  was  further  increased  by  323;  total, 
11,062. 

Its  losses  up  to  July  30th  were:  Killed,  77  officers 
and  971  men;  total,  1,048.  Wounded,  202  officers  and 
3,825  men;  total,  5,075,  or  forty-six  per  cent,  of  the  whole 
strength  in  killed  and  wounded  alone.  The  Brigades  have 
had  seventeen  different  commanders,  of  whom  three  have 
been  killed  and  six  wounded.  Of  the  279  officers  killed 
and  wounded,  forty  were  regimental  commanders.  These 
facts  serve  to  demonstrate  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  Divi 
sion. 

******** 

REPORT  OF  MAJOR      ERASTUS      M.      SPAULDING,      COMMANDING 

EIGHTH  NEW  YORK  HEAVY  ARTILLERY,  JUNE  16TH-29TH. 

CHARGE  ON  PETERSBURG. 

Charged  enemy's  works  June  16th;  advanced  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  works,  held  that  position  and  intrenched 
during  the  night.  On  the  morning  of  June  twenty-second, 
took  position  near  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  remained  there 
until  about  four  p.  m.  under  fire  of  a  rebel  battery.  About 
five  p.  m.  charged  and  attempted  to  retake  the  lost  works; 
advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  works  and  held 
position  there  until  dark  and  intrenched  in  the  night  under 
severe  picket  fire.  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third 
advanced  and  occupied  the  works  which  the  enemy  had 
abandoned;  evening  of  the  twenty-third,  withdrew  a  mile; 


86  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

threw  up  intrenchments  until  about  ten  p.  m.,  when  we 
again  advanced  to  occupy  our  second  line  of  intrench 
ments.  Twenty-fifth,  removed  to  the  left  to  occupy  front 
line,  which  we  did  until  three  p.  m.  of  the  twenty-seventh, 
then  marched  to  Deep  Bottom.  At  nine  p.  m.  of  the  twen 
ty-ninth,  returned  to  position  before  Petersburg. 

BATTUE  OF  BEAM  STATION. 

In  regard  to  the  battle  of  Ream  Station  and  the  mis 
fortune  that  befell  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery 
on  that  eventful  August  day,  (25th),  1864,  I  know  no 
words  more  fitting  or  explanatory  than  those  contained 
in  the  following  official  reports  of  the  different  officers 
who  were  in  command: 

BEAM   STATION— BEPOBT   OF   COL.   MUBPHY. 

Headquarters  2nd  Brigade,  2nd  Division, 

2nd  Army  Corps. 

The  155th  and  117th  New  York  Vols.  being  engaged 
with  the  enemy  on  the  right,  the  rest  of  the  command  still 
occupied  the  rifle  pits.  Myself  having  been  to  the  right, 
they  were  moved  to  the  left.  While  so  situated  they  had 
to  cross  the  rifle  pits  as  many  as  four  times,  being  forced 
to  do  so  by  the  enemy's  fire  which  at  one  time  would  come 
from  the  rear  and  then  change  again  to  the  front.  The 
Brigade  remained  in  this  position  until  the  advance  on  our 
front  and  flank  made  the  capture  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
command  very  probable  if  it  had  not  retired,  which  was 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  87 

executed  in  any  way  but  the  best  order.  The  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery  on  its  right  had  a  hand  to  hand  fight 
with  the  enemy,  losing  their  colors  after  retaking  them 
from  the  enemy.  COL.  MATHEW  MURPHY, 

Com'd.  2nd  Brigade,  2nd  Division,  2nd  Army  Corps. 

Ream  Station:  Headquarters,  2nd  Division, 
2nd  Army  Corps,  Near  Petersburg,  Va.  Aug.  30th,  1864. 
The  enemy  broke  through  Gen'l  Miles'  line,  his  fire 
taking  my  line  in  reverse.  I  shifted  my  men  to  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  parapet;  soon  after  the  enemy  attacked 
my  line,  the  men  again  shifted  to  the  inside  of  the  parapet. 
Besides  the  fire  from  the  front  they  were  subjected  to  a 
heavy  artillery  and  musketry  fire  from  the  right  flank 
where  the  enemy  turned  our  own  guns  upon  us.  The  men 
soon  gave  way  in  great  confusion  and  gave  up  the  breast 
works. 

MAJ.  GEN.  JOHN  GIBBON, 

Com'd.  2nd  Division,  2nd  Army  Corps. 

"GEN'L  ORDER  No.  63. 

Headquarters,  2nd  Div.,  2nd  Army  Corps.  Aug.  30,  1864. 
The  following  named  regiments  having  lost  their  regi 
mental  colors  in  action,  are  hereby  deprived  of  the  right 
to  carry  colors  until  by  their  conduct  in  battle  they  show 
themselves  competent  to  protect  them;  Eighth  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery,  164  New  York  Volunteers,  36  Wisconsin 
.  Volunteers.  MAJ.  GEN.  JOHN  GIBBON, 

Commanding  Second  Division. 


88  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

LETTER  OP  MAJOR  GEN.  HANCOCK 

Headquarters,  2nd  Corps, 
LIEUT.  COL.  T.  S.  BOWERS,  Sept.  28,  1864. 

Asst.  Adj.  Gen. 
Colonel : 

I  have  the  honor  to  solicit  your  attention  to  the  in 
closed  copy  of  an  order  published  by  Major  General  Gib 
bon  on  the  30th  ultimo,  with  my  indorsement  thereon,  and 
to  the  printed  orders  of  the  Major  General  commanding 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  confirming  and  approving  Gen 
eral  Gibbon's  order. 

It  will  be  seen  that  General  Gibbon  deprived  three  regi 
ments  of  his  Division  of  the  privilege  of  bearing  colors 
(they  having  lost  their  colors  at  the  battle  of  Eeam  Sta 
tion,  August  25th) ;  that  I  approved  of  the  principle,  but 
requested  that  if  it  was  adopted  the  rule  might  be  made 
general,  and  affect  other  corps  as  well  as  my  own;  and, 
finally,  that  General  Meade  overruled  my  suggestion  and 
singled  these  regiments,— the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Ar 
tillery,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-fourth  New  York  Volun 
teers,  and  Thirty-sixth  Wisconsin  Volunteers,— to  be  pub 
lished  to  the  Army  as  having  rendered  themselves  unworthy 
to  carry  colors :  this  without  regard  to  the  fact  that  in  the 
same  action  other  regiments  of  my  command  lost  colors, 
and  that  but  a  few  days  before  several  regiments  of  an 
other  corps  had  met  with  the  same  misfortune. 

Under  the  circumstances,  I  respectfully  submit  that 
these  regiments  have  been  proceeded  against  with  unneces- 


NUGGHTS  OF  EXPERIENCE  89 

sary  severity  and  a  slur  cast  upon  the  corps  which  I  have 
the  honor  to  command,  which,  in  view  of  the  past,  might 
well  be  omitted. 

It  is,  perhaps,  known  to  you  that  this  Corps  never 
lost  a  gun  nor  a  color  previous  to  this  campaign,  though 
oftener  and  more  desperately  engaged  than  any  other 
corps  in  this  Army,  or  perhaps  any  other  in  the  country. 
I  have  not  the  means  of  knowing  the  number  of  guns  or 
colors  captured,  but  I  saw  myself  nine  in  the  hands  of  one 
Division  at  Antietam,  and  the  official  reports  show  that 
thirty- four  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  corps  at  Gettysburg. 
Before  the  opening  of  this  campaign  it  had  at  least  cap 
tured  over  half  a  hundred  colors  from  the  enemy,  and 
never  yielded  one,  though  at  a  cost  of  25,000  casualties. 
During  the  campaign  you  can  judge  how  well  the  Corps 
has  performed  its  part.  It  has  captured  more  guns  and 
colors  than  all  the  Army  combined.  Its  reverses  have  not 
been  many,  and  they  began  only  when  the  Corps  had  dis 
solved  to  a  remnant  of  its  former  strength;  after  it  had 
lost  25  Brigade  Commanders  and  over  125  Regimental 
Commanders,  and  over  20,000  men. 

I  submit  that  with  the  record  of  this  Corps,  that  it 
is  the  highest  degree  unjust  by  a  retrospective  order  to 
publish  a  part  of  it  as  unworthy  to  bear  colors.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  speak  more  particularly  as  to  the  injustice 
done  to  these  regiments.  The  principle  discussed  covers 
their  case.  I  may  say,  however,  that  these  regiments  first 
saw  service  in  the  field  after  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania. 


90  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

At  Cold  Harbor  the  Colonel  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Wiscon 
sin,  as  gallant  a  soldier  as  ever  lived,  fell  dead  on  the  field, 
as  did  the  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artil 
lery.  The  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- fourth 
New  York  fell  mortally  wounded  beside  his  flag  on  the 
breastworks  of  the  enemy.  These  regiments  have  since  that 
time  suffered  severely.  One  of  them,  at  least,  having  lost 
two  commanding  officers. 

I  respectfully  request  that  their  colors  may  be  restored 
to  them.  They  are  entitled  to  the  same  privilege  as  other 
regiments,— that  is,  the  right  to  strive  to  avoid  the  penal 
ties  of  General  Order  No.  37,  current  series,  headquarters 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

WINF'D  S.  HANCOCK, 
Maj.  General  of  Volunteers. 


Hatcher's  Run,  or  Boydton  Road. 
Operations,  October  27th  and  28th,  1864. 

REPORT  OF  BRIG.   GEN*L  EGAN. 

The  result  of  these  operations  are  that  my  command 
has  captured  prisoners,  captured  one  and  recaptured  two 
guns;  captured  three  colors  and  many  commissioned  offi 
cers,  and,  by  the  admission  of  the  enemy,  killed  a  Rebel 
gen'l  officer.  I  beg  to  mention  the  Thirty-six  Wisconsin, 
Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  and  One  Hundred  and 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  91 

Sixty-Fourth  New  York  Volunteers.    No  troops  could  have 

done  better. 

BRIG.  GEN.  THOMAS  W.  EGAN, 

Com'd  Second  Division. 

KEPORT   OF   COL.    JAMES  WILLETT,      COM  *D.    2ND   BRIGADE,   2ND 
DIV.,  2ND  ARMY  CORPS. 

Sir: 

Since  making  my  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Sec 
ond  Brigade,  2nd  Div.,  2nd  Army  Corps,  in  the  operations 
of  the  twenty-seventh  instant,  I  have  learned  the  follow 
ing  additional  particulars  which  I  desire  to  submit,  viz: 

Captain  T.  J.  Burk,  164  New  York  Volunteers,  reports 
as  follows :  That  after  the  2nd  Brig,  had  occupied  the  hill 
on  Berger's  farm,  and  the  3rd  Brig,  had  united  on  the 
right,  he  saw  the  line  advancing,  and  believing  it  to  be 
the  whole  line,  he  also  moved  forward  upon  the  left  of  the 
3rd  Brig,  and  entering  the  woods,  soon  found  himself, 
with  ten  men  of  his  Company,  in  rear  of  the  enemy's- 
works,  who  were  hastily  evacuating  the  same,  and  captured 
one  twelve-pounder  gun  and  one  small  caisson,  which,  be 
ing  unable  to  remove,  they  broke  off  the  axles  of  the  gun 
carriage,  and  threw  the  gun  into  the  stream,  which  he 
called  Hatcher's  Creek;  that  they  drew  off  the  caisson  and 
afterwards  reported  the  capture  to  Brig.  Gen.  Egan, 
Com'd.  2nd  Div.,  2nd  Corps.  This  is  a  part  of  the  command 
that  is  deprived  of  carrying  colors. 

COL.  JAMES  WILLETT, 
Com'd.  2nd  Brig.,  2nd  Div.,  2nd  Army  Corps. 


92  NUGGBTS  OF  BXPBR1BNCB 

REPORT   OF    THOMAS   A.    SMITH,   BRIG.    GEN^L,    COM*D.    3RD    BRI 
GADE,   2ND  DIV.,   2ND   ARMY   CORPS. 

Hatcher's  Run,  on  the  left,  Oct.  27  and  28,  1864. 

It  is  due  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
fourth  New  York  Volunteers,  to  mention  their  unexcep 
tionable  conduct  and  their  anxiety  to  perform  duty. 

THOMAS  A.  SMITH,    Brig.  Gen'l. 

GEN'L.  ORDER  No.  41. 

Hdqrs.  Army  of  the  Potomac,    Nov.  7th,  1864. 
The  Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-fourth  New  York  Volunteers,   Thirty-six  Wis 
consin  Volunteers,  having  been  reported  to  the  Maj.  Gen'l 
Commanding  as  having  behaved  with  distinguished  brav 
ery  during  the  engagement  of  Oct.  27th,  1864,  on  Hatcher's 
Run,  he  takes  pleasure  in  restoring  to  those  gallant  regi 
ments     the  right  to  carry  colors,  of  which  they  were  de 
prived  by  his  Gen'l  Order  No.  37,  of  Sept.  23rd,  1864. 
#  #  #  *  #  #%#  *         # 

By  Command  of  MAJOR  GENERAL  MEADE,   . 

S.  WILLIAMS,  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen'l. 


America's  Heroes  of  Freedom 


TRIBUTE  TO  THE  VETERANS  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR,  AS  READ 
BY  THE  AUTHOR,  AT  THE  ANNUAL  PICNIC 

OF  THE  VETERANS 

AND  WOMEN'S  RELIEF  CORPS  ASSOCIATION 

HELD  AT  URBITA  SPRINGS, 

CALIFORNIA. 


OCTOBER  16th 

1902 


CHAPTER  IX 


TWO  SCORE  YEARS— LEE  AND  THE  TWO  JOHNSONS— SENATORS 
AND  REPRESENTATIVES— BRAVE  MEN  WEPT— SEIZED  FORTS 
AND  ARSENALS— GRANT  AND  SHERMAN— LOGAN 's  EN 
COURAGEMENT  TO  THE  GOVERNMENT— THE  PRESIDENT'S 
CALL  FOR  VOLUNTEERS— BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN— INCREASE 
OF  THE  ARMY  TO  FIVE  HUNDRED  THOUSAND— FOUR  LONG 
YEARS  — THE  ENEMIES*  COUNTRY— ALL  THE  SAME  GNAW 
ED  HARD-TACK— AN  ARMY  OF  PATRIOTS— OUR  COUNTRY 
COULD  NOT  BE  DIVIDED— INVINCIBLE  ARMY— GATHERING 
OF  THE  VETERANS— TIES  THAT  BIND  MEN  MOST  CLOSELY 
TO  EACH  OTHER— THE  FALLEN  COMRADES— AMERICA  WE 
LOVE  THY  NAME. 

Comrades,  veterans  and  heroes  of  the  stormy  days  of 
the  Rebellion:  I  am  unable  adequately  to  express  the 
gratitude  I  feel  for  the  pleasure  I  have  enjoyed  on  the 
many  occasions  that  I  have  been  permitted  to  meet  with 
you  in  the  different  annual  reunions  and  other  social 
gatherings.  Many  years  have  passed  since  we  were  soldier 
boys;  but  I  assure  you  that  during  all  those  years  I  have 
kept  a  sacred,  affectionate  remembrance  of  my  associates 
in  arms,  and  all  seem  to  grow  nearer  and  dearer  to  me 
with  each  succeeding  year. 


96  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

The  time  has  now  arrived  when  we  can  look  back  two- 
score  years  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  To  us  the  time 
seems  short;  but  a  generation  has  grown  up  since  then, 
and  to  that  later  generation  those  times  seem  unnatural 
and  unreal.  They  were  real  to  those  who  lived  in  them, 
who  loved  their  country  and  feared  for  its  safety.  Could 
there  be  a  doubt  of  reality  when  such  men  as  Robert  E. 
Lee,  who  was  chief  of  Scott's  staff  in  Mexico,  and  who 
was  considered  the  most  prominent  officer  in  the  United 
States  service,  and  the  two  Johnsons,  Albert  S.  and  Joseph 
E.,  left  the  Union  and  united  their  fortunes  with  Seces 
sion;  when  such  war-hardened  veterans  as  General  Scott 
wept  bitter  tears  for  the  country's  peril;  when  Senators 
and  Representatives  were  leaving  their  seats,  and  others 
remaining  only  to  aid  rebellion  and  defeat  the  Government ; 
when  men  looked  in  each  other's  faces  and  knew  not  who 
was  friend  and  who  was  foe? 

Strong  and  brave  men  wept  and  knew  not  which  way 
to  turn,  hoping  and  praying  that  some  chance  would  yet 
aveit  war.  But  it  came,  and  those  with  military  educa 
tion  and  all  others  had  to  choose;  some  believing  their  for 
tune  lay  with  the  Southern  cause,  while  others  remained 
loyal  to  the  Union. 

The  Southerners  having  early  seized  the  national  forts 
and  arsenals  and  carried  their  contents  to  the  South,  the 
Government  was  totally  without  implements  of  war.  Many 
officers  who  had  received  the  benefit  of  the  Military  Acad- 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  97 

emy  at  West  Point  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  and 
had  sworn  to  support  the  national  authority,  had  left  the 
army  and  gone  to  the  South.  The  army  was  very  insuffi 
cient,  numbering  about  fifteen  thousand  men  of  all  arms. 
General  Scott  was  feeble  with  years,  and  there  having  been 
no  active  service  other  than  Indian  chasing  on  the  front 
iers  since  the  Mexican  troubles,  it  was  not  known  who 
among  the  Union  sympathizers  was  competent  to  command 
an  army  if  we  had  one,  and  the  country  was  on  the  verge 
of  ruin. 

But  in  those  gloomy  days  we  were  refreshed  to  hear 
that  Sherman  had  announced  to  the  State  of  Louisiana 
that  he  could  not  be  with  it  in  rebellion,  and  it  was  good 
and  noble  of  Grant  at  Galena  to  come  out  and  say,  "I  am 
for  the  old  flag."  Grant  was  engaged  in  the  leather  trade 
in  an  insignificant  little  river  town  in  Illinois,  and  Sher 
man  was  president  of  a  military  academy  in  Louisiana, 
and  little  was  known  to  the  country  of  either  of  the  two 
men,  as  they  had  not  been  connected  with  the  army  for 
some  years.  But  both  had  received  a  military  education 
at  West  Point,  and  their  declaration  for  the  Union  was  a 
spark  of  hope  for  the  loyal  people  of  the  North,  who  were 
just  beginning  to  awaken  from  their  torpor  in  regard  to 
the  tempest  that  was  gathering  in  the  South,  and  to  look 
about  for  leaders.  A  generation  had  grown  up  unused  to 
war,  and  peacefully  following  their  vocations  in  pursuit 
of  an  honest  livelihood  they  could  not  realize  that  war  was 


98  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

imminent,  until  the  mouths  of  the  belching  rebel  batteries 
at  Charleston  were  opened  upon  the  garrison  in  Fort  Sum- 
ter. 

Later,  John  A.  Logan,  a  very  brilliant  and  able  young 
lawyer  and  statesman,  who  commanded  the  minds  of  the 
people  of  a  large  portion  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  who 
had  not  yet  expressed  his  sentiments  in  regard  to  the  dif 
ferences;  but  seemed  inclined  to  favor  the  Southern  cause, 
gave  great  relief  and  encouragement  to  the  Government,  by 
delivering  a  speech  before  the  adjournment  of  the  special 
session  of  Congress,  convened  by  President  Lincoln,  July  4, 
1861,  in  which  he  proclaimed  his  undying  loyalty  and  de 
votion  to  the  Union. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1861,  the  day  after  the  fall  of 
Fort  Sumter,  the  President  called  for  seventy-five  thou 
sand  volunteers  for  three  months,  to  suppress  an  armed  re 
bellion.  On  May  15th  of  the  same  year  the  first  call  was 
made  for  volunteers  for  three  years'  service.  This  first 
call  was  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men;  and  on 
July  22nd,  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  the  Presi 
dent  was  authorized  to  increase  the  army  to  five  hundred 
thousand,  volunteers  to  be  enrolled  for  the  period  of  three 
years  or  during  the  war.  Each  call  for  volunteers  was 
promptly  answered,  quotas  were  filled  without  hesitation, 
recruiting  continued  in  the  year  1862,  and  an  army  was 
organized  to  put  down  a  thoroughly  established  and  deter 
mined  rebellion. 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  99 

For  four  long  years  the  men  of  that  army  struggled 
and  persevered  through  unprecedented  disadvantages  in  a 
civil  war  that  has  no  equal  in  the  history  of  nations.  In 
an  enemy's  country  where  officers  and  men  alike  were  en 
tirely  unacquainted,  where  the  inhabitants  were  hostile  to 
them  but  friendly  to  the  enemy,  through  the  darkness  of 
night,  and  the  dust,  heat  and  glare  of  the  day,  they  march 
ed  through  fog  and  mire,  forests  and  tangled  underbrush, 
across  trackless  fields,  into  burning  woods  suffocating  with 
smoke,  waded  through  noisome  swamps  and  swam  and 
forded  rivers. 

They  felled  forests  and  built  bridges  and  corduroy 
roads,  and  toiled  on  forced  marches  with  insufficient  food. 
They  suffered  long  periods  without  rest  or  sleep.  Often 
the  enemy's  lines  were  within  one  hundred  yards  of  their 
own.  They  were  alert  and  watchful,  constantly  on  the 
lookout  for  surprises,  their  nerves  always  strung  to  a  high 
tension. 

Together  they  bore  the  burden  day  after  day,  night 
after  night  and  months  and  years,  through  wet  and  dry 
weather,  through  heat  and  cold.  They  shared  the  same 
bed  on  the  cold  wet  ground  in  drenching  rains,  in  frost 
and  snow,  often  without  a  single  blanket,  all  in  the  so- 
called  "Sunny  South." 

Often  they  had  not  time  to  cook  their  food;  but  all 
the  same  they  gnawed  on  the  almost  petrified  hard-tack, 
cooked  when  they  could  or  tried  to  cook,  the  reluctant  beef, 


ioo  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

which  was  subdued  only  by  penetrating  with  a  sharpened 
stick  and  holding  in  the  blaze  of  a  pitch-pine  fire  till  it 
was  black  with  smoke  and  unfit  to  eat,  and  drank  water 
from  the  fetid  ponds  through  which  many  herds  of  army 
beef  cattle  had  waded  and  appeased  their  thirst. 

They  complained  a  little  at  times,  but  usually  ac 
cepted  with  grace  whatever  was  provided  for  them,  and 
were  at  all  times  ready  to  meet  the  foe  and  stand  before 
the  death-dealing  implements  of  war,  and  face  the  storm 
of  battle,  until  the  enemy  was  driven  behind  his  last  strong 
fortifications,  and  finally  forced  to  surrender. 

None  but  the  soldier  knows  how  severely  the  fatigue 
of  such  campaigns  affects  the  spirit,  the  valor  and  the  en 
durance  of  men  and  wears  out  the  indispensable  vital 
forces. 

In  all  time  to  come,  with  pride  the  grateful  people 
of  a  nobly  preserved  Republic  can  look  bock  upon  that 
body  of  representative  soldiers  as  an  army  of  patriots, 
coming  from  many  different  States  and  Territories,  who 
left  their  firesides,  their  homes  and  all  that  was  dear  to 
them,  sacrificed  all  future  prospects,  went  forth  at  their 
country's  call  to  battle  for  the  integrity  of  the  nation,  to 
maintain  the  union  of  States,  that  our  America  should  not 
sink  into  infamy,  or  be  divided  into  two  angry  sections 
to  remain  hostile  to  the  end  of  time.  Our  country  could 
not  be  divided,  and  if  there  must  be  fighting  they  chose 
to  fight  it  out  then  and  not  bequeath  it  to  their  children. 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  101 

Of  the  men  who  filled  the  ranks  and  made  the  invincible 
army  when  the  flag  was  in  danger,  who  can  say  who  was 
chief est?  All  were  heroes,  the  bravest  of  the  brave. 

I  regard  it  as  a  privilege  to  be  permitted  to  look  upon 
the  gatherings  of  those  veterans,  though  the  scene  recalls 
many  sad  experiences  of  dark  and  troubled  days.  We 
cherish  the  recollections  of  those  with  whom  we  shared  in 
close  familiarity  the  hazardous  life  we  once  lived,  when 
all  felt  equally  the  privations  and  exposures ;  when  no  one 
life  for  one  single  moment  was  safe  from  the  enemy's 
guns,  the  ever  vigilant  sharp-shooters,  the  flying  shot  and 
shell.  None  but  themselves  know  why  they  rejoice  at  meet 
ing  their  old  comrades  to  spend  a  few  hours  in  their  com 
panionship  and  in  the  exchange  of  those  cordial  greetings 
which  express  the  fondness  and  love  they  bear  to  each 
other. 

There  are  no  ties  that  bind  men  more  closely  to  each 
other  than  the  experiences  and  the  vicissitudes  they  pass 
through,  the  hardships  they  are  compelled  to  withstand 
and  share  in  defending  their  country's  rights  in  war.  It 
is  a  bond  of  affection  that  cannot  be  severed  even  when 
they  answer  the  last  long  roll-call. 

We  love  the  comrades  who  fell  on  the  many  different 
battlefields,  others  who  faded  from  our  sight  in  sickness, 
and  those  who  have  departed  this  life  since  the  restora 
tion  of  peace.  All  were  sincere  in  the  struggle  for  the 
preservation  of  their  beloved  country. 


102  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

America,  thy  sons  have  served  thee  well, 

Though  the  misery  cost,  no  tongue  can  tell, 
From,  loved  and  sacred  ties  thy  peril  drew 

The  patriots  of  the  sixties,  tried  and  true, 
Hail  the  heroes  who  have  glorious  victories  won, 

God  bless  them,  each  and  every  one, 
Who  in  freedom's  name,  to  dare  and  do, 

Have  nobly  fought  their  country's  battles  through. 

America,  my  country,  we  love  thy  name, 

Thou  hast  been  restored  to  thy  dome  of  fame, 
Dand  of  the  noble,  true  and  brave, 

Land  now  free,  was  once  home  of  the  slave, 
May  thy  dear  old  banner  ever  honored  be, 

Whither  it  may  go,  on  land  or  on  sea, 
Peace,  happiness  and  prosperity  to  thee, 

America,  my  country,  sweet  home  of  liberty. 


CHAPTER  X 


These  verses  were  written  for  the  occasion,  and  read 
by  the  author  at  the  annual  picnic  of  the  Veterans',  and 
Woman's  Relief  Corps  Association  of  San  Bernardino 
county,  California,  held  at  Urbita  Springs,  Oct.  20th,  1904. 

OUR  SOCIAL.  MEETING  DAY. 

Again  we  have  met,  the  boys  of  the  Blue, 

To  while  a  few  hours  in  play, 
To  review  the  old  scenes,  talk  of  the  army  beans, 

And  the  boys  who  obstructed  our  way. 
Though  many  a  year  has  come  and  gone, 

And  our  locks  have  grown  thin  and  gray, 
The  past  is  vividly  before  the  Veteran, 

On  our  social  meeting  day. 

We  see  the  dreaded  storm  approaching 

And  the  martialed  hosts  arrayed, 
Hastening  to  the  field  of  conflict, 

On  those  bright  morns  of  our  youthful  days. 
We  hear  the  parting  prayers  of  our  dear  ones, 

That  shall  guide  us  on  our  way, 
Our  country  calls,— "To  arms!  To  arms!" 

We  can  no  longer  with  them  stay. 


io6  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

The  foe  presses  on,  with  impetuous  fury, 

Determined,  in  his  might,  to  gain  all  sway; 
Vantage  inclining  now  to  the  Southland, 

And  again,  the  tide  we  stay. 
Brave  commanders  ride  in  the  thick  of  the  fight; 

Our  depleted  columns  are  giving  way! 
The  bayonet  boys  charge ;  we  advance  in  fierce  array ; 

Behold  the  deeds  of  valor ;  we  are  sure  to  win  the  day. 

We  hear  the  resounding  cry  of  Victory ! 

We  repeat  it  o'er  and  o'er, 
And  it  rolls  across  the  continent 

From  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  shore, 
Proclaiming  joy  for  the  bondman, 

In  the  land  we  shall  restore, 
And  we  hurrah  for  dear  old  Union 

And  the  F]ag  we  all  adore. 
All  are  fresh  to  the  memory  of  the  Veterans, 

And  the  boys  are  boys  once  more. 

Some  tell  us  we  are  old  and  forgotten, 

Our  services  are  not  needed  more; 
The  days  of  the  sixties  are  long  passed, 

The  carnage  and  strife  is  o>'er. 
'Tis  true,  we  are  aged  and  crippled,  too, 

We  obtain  but  little  succor, 
The  days  will  come,  and  the  fife  and  drum 

Shall  recall  our  deeds  of  yore. 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  107 

Our  soldiering  on  earth  is  nearly  done, 

Our  battles  shall  soon  be  o'er, 
And  we  shall  seek  the  sweet  repose 

On  the  bright  and  golden  shore. 
When  we  have  gathered  at  the  River 

Our  comrades  crossed  some  forty  years  or  more, 
Our  sorrows  shall  cease;  we  shall  rest  in  peace, 

In  the  great  Grand  Army  Corps. 


THE  YEAR  OF  SIXTY-THREE. 
THE  JUBILEE. 

In  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one 

As  fortune  did  decree, 
War  infested  our  peaceful  land 

Between  slave  and  liberty. 
In  southern  lands  were  haughty  bands, 

Recognized  their  demands  must  see; 
Or  Southern  States  from  union  bonds 

Seceded  would  surely  be. 

CHORUS. 

Our  country's  flag,  insulted  long, 
The  emblem  of  the  free; 

Drooping  in  crape  for  the  nation's  fate, 
And  trembling  for  liberty. 


io8  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

Uncle  Abraham  warned  our  rebellious  friends, 

Go  home  and  peaceful  be; 
Or  emancipation  bill  he  would  pass, 

And  make  four  millions  free. 
The  colored  race  in  bond  and  chain 

He  would  make  four  millions  free; 
And  the  Jubilee  should  be  sounded  forth, 

In  the  year  of  sixty  three. 

CHORUS. 

Stand  by  the  starry  banner,  boys, 
It's  the  emblem  of  the  free; 
The  Jubilee  shall  be  sounded  forth 
In  the  year  of  sixty  three. 

Our  victorious  arms  at  Gettysburg, 

Vicksburg  and  Tennessee; 
Were  noble  aids  to  our  glorious  cause, 

In  the  year  of  sixty  three, 
With  Lincoln  at  the  head  of  government, 

Grant  the  army  chief  to  be; 
Phil  Sheridan  swept  the  valley  clean 

Marched  Sherman  to  the  sea. 

CHORUS. 
Bearing  aloft  that  royal  banner,  boys, 

The  emblem  of  the  free; 
For  the  Jubilee  had  sounded  forth 
In  the  year  of  sixty  three. 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPBRIHNCH  109 

At  the  final  meet  at  Appomatox  House, 

Near  the  historic  apple  tree; 
Grant  in  his  magnanimity 

Made  Lee  and  his  army  free, 
Peace  being  desired  most  of  all 

Go  home  good  citizens  be; 
And  the  Jubilee  shall  be  sounded  forth, 

The  Nation's  unity. 

CHORUS. 
Protect  that  dear  old  banner,  sons, 

It's  the  emblem  of  the  free; 
Keep  in  mind  the  cost  of  the  Jubilee, 

In  the  year  of  sixty  three. 


AULD  LANG  SYNE. 

Again  we  have  met,  my  honored  friends 

And  proven  friendship  true. 
Now  for  sacred  ties  we  part 

I  will  bid  farewell  to  you. 
I  will  bid  farewell  to  you,  my  friends 

And  ever  keep  in  mind, 
The  friends  we  have  met,  we  will  not  forget 

Nor  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 


no  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

Now  here 's  a  hand  my  trusted  friends 

Each  give  a  hand  o'  thine, 
We  will  take  a  sup  from  the  old  time  cup 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 
For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne,  my  friends, 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne 
We  will  take  a  sup  from  the  old  tin  cup 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 

You'll  return  to  your  own  sweet  homes 

And  I'll  go  back  to  mine; 
We  will  meet  again  some  other  time 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 
For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne,  my  friends, 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne, 
We  will  meet  again  some  other  night, 

For  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 


HAPPY   DAYS   OF   YORE. 

I  am  thinking  of  the  days  long  ago,  laddies, 

When  I  was  young  and  gay, 
Now  on  the  downward  of  life's  ladder 

Almost  to  the  close  of  day. 
O'er  land,  and  sea  I  have  wandered  far 

Deeply  in  grief  and  alone 
And  darker  the  clouds  of  fortune  frown 

As  years  come  creeping  down. 


NUGGHTS  OF  HXPHRIBNCH  in 


CHORUS. 


Oh,  could  I  recall  those  happy  days 
That  I  might  rejoice  once  more 

How  I  long  for  those  days  to  return  to  me 
Those  happy  days  of  yore. 


I  was  once  blessed  with  wife,  and  children  three 

They  were  happy,  joyous  and  free, 
Now  left  alone  in  the  cold  world 

We  laid  them  'neath  the  old  willow  tree. 
Oh,  how  I  long  to  join  them 

In  their  angel  home  on  high 
I  close  my  feeble  eyes  on  the  scenes  passed 

In  those  happy  days  gone  by. 

CHORUS. 

I  am  aged,  I  am  weak  and  bowed  now 

My  days  of  youth  are  long  by 
I  fold  my  arms  and  ponder  on  the  old  home 
Once  dear  to  mine  and  I, 
Yet,  I'll  return  to  the  old  home 

Where  the  graves  of  my  babes  are  green 
Where  they  played  by  the  brook  by  the  hillside 

So  oft,  the  sight  I  have  seen. 


ii2  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

FLOWERY  FLORIDA. 

(Suffering  with  rheumatism,  at  the  beautiful  Lake 
Thonotasassa,  South  Florida,  upon  my  departure  for  the 
prairies  of  the  northwest,  the  following  verses  were  writ 
ten)  : 

Kind  friends  I  now  must  leave  thee, 

I  bid  you  a  fond  farewell, 
Your  beautiful  lake  too,  I'll  bid  adieu, 

And  the  scenes  I  love  so  well. 
I  leave  thee  now  for  a  distant  land: 

Kind  friends,  when  I'm  far  away, 
When  you  think  of  the  day,  when  long  gone  by, 

Will  you  think  one  thought  of  me? 

CHORUS. 
Journeying  on  afar, 

Way  o'er  land  and  sea, 
With  a  saddened  heart  I  leave  thee, 

A  wandering  refugee. 

Oh,  Florida,  must  I  leave  thee, 

Thy  land  of  flowers,  and  flee 
For  my  afflictions  great,  we  will  separate: 

My  home  is  not  with  thee. 
Thy  orange  groves,  with  golden  fruit, 

Thy  grape  and  guava  tree, 
Sweet  potatoes  too,  all  fair  to  view, 

But  no  more  grits  for  me. 


NUGGBTS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  113 

CHORUS. 

When  far  away  in  a  distant  land, 

Where  the  snow  doth  robe  the  lea, 
I'll  oft  return  to  the  flowery  south 

In  silent  reverie. 
When  alone  in  my  cabin  home 

On  the  plain  so  wide  and  free, 
I'll  think  of  the  day  when  I  said  good-bye, 

And  no  more  grits  for  me. 


10 


OTHER  EXPERIENCES. 


CHAPTER  XI 


The  Postponed   Horse,  or  Across  Dakota  Territory   in   1880. 

A  CONTEMPLATED  JOURNEY  TO  THE  GOLD  FIELDS— MY  NEW 
FRIEND— THE  TROTTING  HORSE  TURK  GOLD-DUST— FITTED 
OUT  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  OPEN  PRAIRIES— WHITE 
SWAN  AND  FORT  RANDALL— PLATT  CREEK— THE  QUARTER 
DASH— FORT  THOMPSON— A  NIGHT  WITH  OLD  FRIENDS— 
INDIAN  AGENCIES— THE  BIG  MUDDY— BIG  BEND— BIRTH 
OF  CONTEMPLATION — FORT  PERRIE — THE  VILLAGE  HOTEL 
— WAKPA  SHICKA. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  I  had  occasion  to  make  a  trip  to 
the  Black  Hills,  the  great  gold  bearing  fields  of  the  Terri 
tory  of  Dakota. 

Although  there  were  at  that  time  obstacles  without 
number  to  hinder  the  pursuit  of  pleasure,  it  in  reality  ter 
minated  in  a  most  entertaining  experience  and  proved  to 
be  the  most  benefitting  to  health  of  all  my  many  journeys. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  months,  an  epizootic 
of  a  very  prostrating  nature  infected  the  horses  of  south 
eastern  Dakota.  I  had  been  engaged  in  administering 
stimulants  to  the  suffering  equine,  consequently  my  rest 


n8  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

was  broken  a  good  deal  through  the  hot  months  and  I  was 
feeling  considerably  fatigued  and  worn  down. 

I  had  at  that  time  a  trotting  horse  I  had  dealt  for, 
and  I  wanted  to  secure  a  little  recreation  for  myself  by 
his  means.  I  thought  a  journey  to  the  Black  Hills,  as  a 
business  trip  combined  with  pleasure,  would  be  of  benefit 
to  me. 

I  had  recently  become  acquainted  with  a  man  residing 
at  Elk-Point,  Dakota,  who  had  journeyed  over  the  route  to 
the  Hills  and  return  two  or  three  times.  He  was  about  to 
start  on  his  final  trip,  and  on  hearing  of  my  contemplated 
journey  to  the  Hills  he  came  to  see  me,  and  was  anxious 
that  I  should  accompany  him.  He  stated,  by  way  of  in 
ducement  to  me,  that  he  had  been  successful  in  his  former 
speculative  transactions  across  the  prairies.  This  time,  he 
said,  he  would  be  prepared  to  go  in  better  shape  than  ever 
before.  He  was  going  to  have  a  covered  wagon  loaded  with 
butter,  and  had  also  five  horses  to  take  along  for  sale.  He 
would  have  a  light,  covered  spring  wagon  to  carry  our  pro 
visions  and  bedding,  and  in  it  we  could  sleep  nicely.  He 
would  hitch  four  of  his  horses  to  the  loaded  wagon;  his 
odd  horse  and  my  trotter  would  make  a  good  team  for  the 
light  spring  wagon,  and  we  could  go  along  in  elegant  style. 

There  was  going  to  be  the  grandest  fair  held  at  Dead- 
wood  that  had  ever  taken  place  in  the  gold  regions,  or, 
for  that  matter,  in  all  the  western  country,  and  all  would 
be  in  operation  about  the  time  of  our  arrival.  An  elaborate 
programme  was  on  exhibition,  advertising  fine  racing 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPHRIBNCB  119 

premiums;  among  them  one  thousand  dollars  was  offered 
as  a  free-for-all  trotting  purse.  I  thought  the  opportunity 
a  good  one  and  I  determined  to  cross  the  plains  with  my 
new  friend.  I  would  take  my  trotting  horse,  "Gold-dust," 
along,  attend  the  fair  and  races,  and  as  I  believed  I  would 
not  be  likely  to  come  in  contact  with  horses  of  high  speed 
in  so  new  and  isolated  a  country,  I  would  without  doubt 
secure  a  large  portion  of  the  money  of  any  race  I  started 
him  in,  and  chances  were  good  to  quit  a  winner. 

'We  left  Elk-Point  on  the  5th  day  of  September,  our 
first  half  day's  travel  being  along  the  wet  and  heavy  Mis 
souri  river-bottom  roads.  We  arrived  in  Vermillion  after 
dark,  where  we  camped  for  the  night,  with  fifteen  miles  of 
our  long  road  behind  us. 

Kolling  out  early  the  next  morning,  we  hoped  to  reach 
Yankton  before  night.  Yankton  was  then  the  capitol  of 
the  Territory  of  Dakota,  and  my  home.  The  roads  were 
heavy;  we  were  trailing  the  spring  wagon,  and  it  was  well 
nigh  the  end  of  the  day  when  we  drew  into  Gayville,  a 
small  village  twelve  miles  east  of  our  intended  camping 
place.  Leaving  my  friend  to  put  up  for  the  night,  I  took 
the  cars  for  Yankton  to  make  preparations  to  start  the 
second  team,  as  my  horse  was  yet  at  home. 

My  friend  came  up  the  following  day,  and  after  feed 
ing  our  horses,  lunching  ourselves,  and  making  some  neces 
sary  preparations,  we  hitched  our  teams  and  left  Yankton, 
westward  bound,  thoroughly  fitted  out  for  a  campaign  on 
the  open  prairies;  I  manipulating  the  reins  over  the  four 


120  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE, 

horse  team,  while  my  friend  sat  behind  the  coachers  in  the 
covered  spring  wagon. 

We  traveled  out  a  few  miles  and  went  into  our  first 
camp  on  the  prairie.  We  talked  but  little;  went  to  bed 
early,  and  I  confess,  I  did  not  prize  my  quarters  as  highly 
as  I  might  have  done  in  earlier  days. 

We  were  on  the  road  with  the  first  light  of  the  morn 
ing,  and  camped  for  the  night  on  the  east  side  of  Choteau 
Creek.  Our  next  day's  travel  was  through  the  Yankton 
Indian  Reservation,  over  a  great  deal  of  rough  sideling 
road,  and  at  times  I  was  fearful  of  my  ability  to  keep 
my  heavy  loaded  wagon  proper  side  up.  There  were  many 
abrupt  hills  and  ravines  to  pass  over,  the  White  Swan 
hill  being  a  bad  one.  White  Swan  is  the  name  of  a  place 
on  the  Yankton  Indian  Reservation,  located  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Missouri  River.  I  did  not  know  then,  nor  do 
I  at  the  present  time,  how  the  name  of  White  Swan  orig 
inated,  or  why  it  was  ever  called  a  place,  but  I  supposed 
the  name  was  derived  from  the  family  title  of  some  of 
the  nobility  of  red  birth.  I  did  not  see  in  that  vicinity, 
and  did  not  think  there  was  at  that  time  a  dwelling  within 
the  radius  of  a  half  day's  travel. 

Fort  Randall  is  located  on  the  Military  Reservation,— 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  directly  opposite  White  Swan, 
and  eighty -five  miles  from  Yankton. 

Not  being  accustomed  to  the  kind  of  teaming  I  was  do 
ing,  and  my  health  not  the  best,  having  to  figure  with  a 
team  of  four  green  horses  over  the  rough  roads,  required 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  121 

my  entire  and  close  attention  through  the  day.  When 
night  came  I  would  be  very  tired  and  always  willing  to 
retire  early,  but  after  a  few  days  on  the  road,  I  found 
that  being  exposed  to  the  open  air  was  doing  me  good. 
Strength  was  returning,  my  appetite  was  of  the  best,  I 
could  sleep  soundly,  rise  in  the  morning  feeling  as  fresh 
as  the  merry  lark,  and  I  began  to  enjoy  our  way  of  travel 
ing,  hugely. 

All  seemed  to  be  moving  smoothly  with  us,  until  we 
reached  a  small  stream  known  as  Platt  Creek,  a  tributary 
to  the  Missouri  River.  On  the  west  side  of  the  creek  was 
located  a  ranch,  a  big  log  cabin  and  corral,  for  an  accommo 
dation  for  freighters  and  the  traveling  public.  We  found 
the  water  had  recently  been  on  its  bad  behavior  and  the 
banks  were  badly  washed  away,  making  the  crossing  un 
safe  for  loaded  teams. 

My  friend  succeeded  in  crossing  with  the  spring  wa 
gon  farther  up  the  stream,  while  I  was  compelled  to  await 
the  repairing  of  the  crossing.  He  hitched  his  team  to  the 
corral,  obtained  a  shovel  at  the  cabin,  and  in  a  short  time 
had  completed  the  crossing.  I  started  my  team  for  the 
opposite  side,  when  my  friend's  horse,  that  had  many  a 
time  run  away  at  sight  of  a  covered  vehicle,  seeing  the 
white  covered  top  of  my  wagon  rocking  back  and  forth 
as  it  rolled  across  the  rough  creek  bottom,  became  fright 
ened,  leaped  to  the  front  and  broke  his  bit,  turning  him 
self  and  his  mate  loose  on  the  prairie. 


122  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

Away  they  ran  with  our  nice  little  spring  wagon. 
This  race  was  a  quarter  dash,  the  trotter  on  the  right  hand 
or  off  side,  the  natural  runaway,  the  left  side  or  the 
pole.  The  trotter  proved  the  faster  runner,  and  they 
circled  to  the  left  onto- the  creek  bottom.  This  was  a  race 
in  pure  sincerity.  I  fancy  I  see  them  before  me  now,  as 
plainly  as  on  the  day  of  the  casualty,  in  that  hotly  con 
tested  brush  for  first  place  in  their  semi-circle  to  the  south. 
It  was  a  sad  accident,  but  a  comical  sight.  Our  bed  and 
bedding  went  floating  through  the  air,  in  all  shapes  and 
directions;  our  provision  box  was  broken  open  and  sent 
whirling  about  the  prairies  as  if  struck  by  a  Missouri  cy 
clone.  The  bread,  meat,  canned  goods,  tin  pans  and  dishes 
were  strewn  promiscously  about  all  along  the  line.  Our 
little  wagon  was  completely  pulverized  and  distributed 
broadcast  to  the  gentle  zephyrs  of  the  great  Northwest. 
Nothing  remained  attached  to  the  horses  at  the  finish  save 
the  ends  of  the  broken  whiffletrees,  and  when  desiring  to 
discontinue  the  exhibition  of  speed,  at  the  sudden  appear 
ance  of  the  creek  brink,  both  horses  fell  to  the  ground 
greatly  entangled  in  the  harness,  where  they  quietly 
waited  extrication. 

After  releasing  and  returning  them  to  the  stable  we 
concluded  there  was  business  enough  for  us  at  that  place 
for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  we  would  tarry  for  the 
night.  We  began  picking  up  such  of  our  household  stuffs 
as  we  could  find,  with  a  view  to  putting  them  in  the  big 
wagon  on  top  of  the  load  of  butter.  When  they  had  been 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  125 

secured  and  stuffed  under  the  big  cover,  we  commenced 
gathering  together  the  splinters  and  remains  of  our  much 
cherished  little  wagon,  and  we  laid  them  carefully  in  a 
neat  little  heap  close  by  the  side  of  the  cabin,  and  en 
gaged  a  man  with  team  to  carry  them  to  the  Missouri 
river  and  ship  on  a  down  steamer  to  Yankton.  I  did  not 
know  what  for,  unless  for  burial. 

The  following  morning  we  were  early  to  breakfast, 
and  hitched  up  our  four  horse  team,  leading  the  runaway 
horses  behind.  My  friend  lamenting  the  loss  of  his  spring 
wagon,  and  I  with  the  four  in  hand,  we  journeyed  on  over 
the  plains. 

At  Fort  Thompson  we  found  a  good  camping  place 
for  a  night,  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  my  old 
friend,  Frank  Elliott,  with  whom  I  enjoyed  a  pleasant 
visit.  My  acquaintance  with  Elliot  dated  some  years  be 
fore,  when  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  United  States  Regular 
Army  and  located  at  Brule  Military  Post.  I  was  then  vis 
iting  Major  De-Russy,  whose  agreeable  acquaintance  I  had 
the  pleasure  to  make  in  my  earliest  days  in  Dakota.  The 
Major  was  a  great  horse  fancier  and  I  enjoyed  visiting 
him.  He  kept  a  fine  Hambletonian  stallion,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  Kentucky,  and  two  youngsters  that  were 
promising  speed.  He  had  a  half  mile  race  track  on  the 
plateau  back  from  the  Post,  where  he  and  I  would  go  to 
amuse  ourselves  with  the  horses.  The  Major  was  in  com- 
.mand  of  the  Post,  and  Elliott  was  Assistant  Quartermas 
ter,  and  as  there  was  but  little  military  duty  to  be  done, 
11 


126  NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB 

we  enjoyed  feasts  of  amusements.  Later,  the  Major  was 
assigned  to  command  in  Arizona,  among  the  Indians.  El 
liott  's  term  of  service  expired ;  he  was  discharged  from  the 
army,  and  employed  at  the  agency  as  issuing  agent  for  the 
Crow  Creek  Indians.  Fort  Thompson  was  an  old  mili 
tary  post  located  on  the  East  side  of  the  Missouri  River, 
on  the  Winnebago  and  Crow  Creek  Indian  Reservation, 
which  is  one  of  the  largest  Indian  Reservations  on  the  Mis 
souri  River. 

But  morning  came,  as  I  knew  it  would,  and  as  the  old 
adage  goes:  "The  best  of  friends  must  sometimes  part," 
So  I  parted  with  my  friend  Elliott,  and  we  were  soon  again 
winding  our  way  over  the  wide  prairie  to  the  west.  We 
camped  for  the  night  on  a  pretty  piece  of  level  land  by 
the  side  of  a  stream  of  clear  water.  When  we  had  finished 
our  evening  meal  we  sat  by  the  wagon  enjoying  some 
Havana  crooks,  as  my  friend  called  them,  which  he  had 
not  forgotten  to  bring  along.  The  night  was,  reminding 
me  of  the  writing  of  the  poet,  purely  sublime.  The 
weather  was  warm,  not  a  cloud  to  be  seen,  and  the  stars 
were  shining  forth  in  their  brightest  light.  Not  a  sound 
was  heard  to  mar  the  grandeur  of  the  peaceful  night.  All 
under  the  azure  canopy  seemed  to  be  at  rest. 

I  remarked  to  my  friend,  "How  strange  it  seems  to 
me,  that  white  people  can  content  themselves  to  live  among 
Indians  at  an  Agency." 

"They  get  used  to  it,"  he  carelessly  replied.  Getting 
used  to  living  among  those  copper-faced  people,  I  thought, 


NUGGBTS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB  127 

would  be  a  good  deal  like  getting  used  to  being  hanged; 
by  the  time  the  art  was  acquired  the  victim  would 
be  of  little  value  on  earth.  If  a  man  who  is  not  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  fiendish  customs  and  brutal  desires  of 
those  remarkable  freaks  of  the  human  species,  is  seeking 
information,  thinking  it  would  be  nice  to  live  among  them, 
will  go  to  some  of  the  Sioux  reservations,  go  out  in  a  dark 
night,  get  lost  and  wander  around  on  the  banks  of  the  Big 
Muddy  for  the  short  space  of  two  hours,  and  hear  the 
dreary  noises,  whether  he  be  attentive  or  not,  he  can 
thoroughly  indulge  in  the  unalloyed,  dismal  unciviliza- 
tion  to  his  entire  satisfaction. 

He  is  now  a  thousand  miles  from  home  in  his  loneli 
ness,  thinking  of  his  good  and  faithful  wife,  who  is  attend 
ing  to  his  business  matters  while  he  is  seeking  a  little  recre 
ation  in  the  far  West.  His  darling,  blue-eyed  babes  seem 
more  dear  to  him  now,  and  he  wonders  if  the  little  prat 
tlers  lisp  the  name  of  Papa  when  they  are  repeating  their 
evening  prayers,  receiving  their  good  night  kisses  and  being 
tucked  away  in  their  cosy  little  beds.  He  harkens  to  those 
moaning  sounds  of  the  rolling  waters,  the  agonizing  howls 
of  the  prairie  wolves,  the  startling  tumbling  of  the  river 
bank,  the  stealthy  approach  of  the  natives'  canoe,  notes  the 
rapid  hissing  noises  of  the  different  under-currents,  and 
sees  the  Kedskin,  in  the  darkness,  sneaking  up  with  toma 
hawk  in  one  hand,  scalping  knife  in  the  other,  impatient  to 
chop  him  in  the  back  of  the  head  while  he  is  enjoying  a  few 
loving  thoughts  of  home,  and  he  thinks  of  the  customary 


128  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

carelessness  of  the  Sioux,  when  selecting  a  memorial  in 
the  form  of  a  tuft  of  hair— so  likely  to  take  the  head  with 
it.  If,  when  found  at  the  expiration  of  his  two  hours,  he 
is  still  yearning  for  Indian  agencies,  he  should  be  judged  a 
Brave,  and  permitted  to  wear  the  paint. 

The  Indians  have  named  the  Missouri  River  the  "Big 
Muddy ' '  because  it  is  a  large  and  swift  running  stream  and 
the  water  is  never  clear.  The  channel  is  constantly  chang 
ing  in  consequence  of  continuous  forming  and  reforming 
sandbars. 

Five  miles  above  Fort  Thompson  there  is  a  peculiar 
turn  in  the  river,  known  as  the  "Big  Bend."  The  river 
flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  then  turns  to  the  north 
east,  then  makes  an  abrupt  turn  to  the  northwest,  again 
curves  to  the  northeast,  then  southeast,  again  south  to  the 
beginning,  and  finally  southeast,  forming  a  narrow  neck 
of  land  between  the  two  curves,  and  an  oblong  body  of 
many  acres  of  rich  grazing  lands. 

Near  the  small  stream  chain  La-Rush,  seven  thousand 
head  of  cattle  were  quietly  grazing.  These  we  were  in 
formed  were  the  property  of  Charles  Woolworth  and  Com 
pany  of  Omaha,  Nebraska. 

Now  being  deprived  of  our  little  wagon,  our  sleeping 
place  was  rendered  very  incomplete.  We  had  a  good  mat 
tress  and  a  sufficient  amount  of  bedding,  and  would,  when 
camping  at  night,  prepare  a  shake-down  on  the  ground 
under  the  wagon  and  stretch  a  tarpaulin  around  as  a  wall 
against  the  weather,  forming  a  very  comfortable  apart- 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  129 

ment.  I  could  not  resist  the  thought  of  rattle-snakes,  of 
which  there  was  no  scarcity,  lizards,  wolves,  and  many 
other  beasts  and  reptiles  that  live  and  move  about  the 
prairies ;  but  we  were  soon  lost  in  dreamland  enjoying  the 
sweet  repose  that  so  easily  comes  to  the  tired  traveler  in 
the  soothing  breezes  of  the  outdoor  air  on  the  western 
prairies.  Thus  we  arose  each  morning  refreshed  and  able 
for  the  duties  of  the  day. 

When  we  reached  the  river  opposite  Fort  Pierre,  we 
were  informed  that  we  could  not  cross  by  reason  of  high 
wind.  We  therefore  moved  back  near  the  bluff  and  went 
rnto  camp  for  the  day.  At  this  time  the  birth  of  contempla 
tion  of  a  town  at  East  Pierre  had  but  recently  taken  place, 
and  it  was  not  yet  known  whether  or  not  the  project  would 
prove  a  success.  A  few  rough  board  shanties,  one  liquor 
store,  one  saloon  and  a  blacksmith  shop  was  all  the  new 
town  could  boast  of.  French  Joe,  the  pioneer  saloon  keeper 
of  Yankton  in  its  early  career,  was  the  occupant  of  the 
saloon. 

The  following  day  when  the  storm  had  diminished  to 
some  degree,  the  Captain  thought  the  sign  was  right,  and 
that  he  would  attempt  to  steer  his  craft  across  the  Big 
Muddy.  We  drove  our  team  to  the  river,  but  could  see  no 
boat.  When  we  inquired  as  to  its  whereabouts,  the  Captain 
erected  himself  to  a  high  commanding  attitude,  and  with 
the  short,  thick  finger  of  his  right  fist  indicated  the  far 
side  of  the  sandbar,  saying:  "There  she  lays."  I  could 
not  then  see  a  boat,  but  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  us 


130  NUGGETS  OF  BXPHRIBNCB 

I  saw  something  which  I  though  had  the  appearance  of  a 
pile  of  refuse  lumber,  such  as  I  had  seen  thrown  from  a 
wornout  plank  road  in  the  eastern  states.  However,  we  got 
across  the  sandbar,  and  succeeded  in  boarding  the  thing, 
only  to  find  it  had  once  been  a  coal  barge.  My  friend  called 
it  a  flat  boat,  and  it  might  have  been  one  at  sometime,  but 
now  was  so  badly  warped  that  there  was  nothing  flat  about 
it.  The  Captain  landed  us  safely  on  the  other  shore,  and  I 
did  not  regret  awaiting  the  abating  of  the  winds. 

We  were  now  at  Fort  Pierre,  a  small  village,  prin 
cipally  of  log  cabins,  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mis 
souri  River.  It  was  once  a  military  post,  but  abandoned  as 
such  a  great  many  years  ago,  and  at  the  time  of  which  I  am 
now  writing  it  was  used  as  a  transfer  post  for  all  freight 
from  the  Missouri  River  'boats,  going  to  the  Black  Hills 
and  military  posts  west,  which  was  hauled  across  the  plains 
by  mules  or  cattle  trains;  thirty-five  days  for  the  round 
trip  to  the  Hills  with  cattle  being  considered  a  success. 
Mules  were  more  active. 

We  had  been  so  long  on  the  way,  camping,  eating  and 
sleeping  in  the  open  air,  that  being  in  the  village  seemed  al 
most  like  returning  to  civilization,  and  we  mutually  agreed 
not  to  make  coffee ;  instead  we  partook  of  a  very  good  supper 
at  the  village  hotel,  the  proprietor  of  which,  we  learned, 
was  frequently  the  subject  of  serious  jokes  at  the  pleasure 
of  the  freighters.  He  was  one  who  will  not  be  forgotten 
by  the  many  who  chanced  to  pass  his  way. 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPBRIBNCB  131 

After  visiting  some  old  friends  whom  we  met  at  this 
place,  we  retired  for  the  night;  but  did  not  sleep  for  the 
reason  that  the  cattle  trains  were  ready  to  move,  and  the 
inexperienced  teamsters  who  had  been  engaged  for  the  trip 
were  using  the  night  for  rehearsing  the  whip  act. 

Our  next  day's  travel  was  along  the  north  side  of  the 
Wakpa  Schicka,  as  the  Sioux  have  it,  or,  "Bad  River." 
The  feeders  of  Bad  River,  of  which  there  are  a  goodly  lot, 
all  rise  in  the  north  and  flow  in  a  southerly  direction.  The 
freight  road  crosses  many  of  them,  and  all  must  be  forded 
as  there  were  no  bridges  at  that  time. 


CHAPTER  XII 


BAD  RIVER— THE  STORM  AT  PLUM  CREEK— INDIANS  ON  THE 
WARPATH — DEAD  MAN^S  CREEK — CHEYENNE  RIVER — A 
GREATER  MISFORTUNE  — THE  INDIANS  IN  SIGHT— THE 
PHANTOM  HORSE-GUARDS. 

Bad  River  rises  in  Ziebach  County,  and  contributes  its 
contents  to  the  Missouri  Eiver  south  of  Fort  Pierre.  We 
were  blessed  with  the  best  of  weather  for  traveling  and  our 
roads  were  equally  as  good.  The  first  and  only  rainfall 
during  our  journey  occurred  on  the  night  of  our  camp  on 
Plum  Creek.  Major  Sharp,  United  States  Army  Pay  Mas 
ter,  writh  a  guard  of  soldiers,  camped  near  us.  He  was  on 
his  paying  expedition  to  the  military  posts  along  the  Mis 
souri  River  and  west  to  Fort  Meade.  I  think  that  heavier 
rain,  louder  thunder  or  sharper  lightning  I  have  never  ex 
perienced,  than  we  saw  and  heard  that  night. 

Having  camped  on  the  east  side,  we  found  the  stream 
so  swollen  the  next  morning,  that  crossing  with  a  loaded 
team  was  an  impossibility,  and  it  was  late  when  we  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  to  the  west  side,  where  a  log  cabin  and  a 
telegraph  station  were  located.  When  there,  we  were  in 
formed  by  the  operator  that  a  telegram  had  been  received, 
stating  that  the  Indians  were  on  the  warpath.  They  had 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  133 

the  day  before  attacked  John  Dougherty's  freight  trains, 
massacred  his  teamsters,  and  stampeded  and  stolen  the 
cattle.  This  was  rather  a  discouraging  report  for  us,  but 
we  considered  traveling  one  way  as  safe  as  going  the  other, 
and  continued  moving  towards  the  setting  sun.  Our  roads 
were  heavy;  the  streams  swollen  with  the  late  rain  and  our 
team  mired  in  Burnt  Creek  in  three  feet  of  water,  detain 
ing  us  some  hours.  We  were  fording  the  rapidly  running 
streams  and  toiling  on  through  the  seemingly  long  day,  un 
til  darkness  fell,  compelling  us  to  go  into  camp  for  the 
night,  but  a  few  miles  in  advance  of  our  breakfasting  place. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  were  entirely  outside 
of  the  rain  belt,  it  having  extended  only  over  a  space  of 
country  about  thirty  miles  from  east  to  west.  Our  roads 
were  again  in  excellent  condition. 

As  we  were  going  quietly  along  one  beautiful  and 
bright  morning,  not  having  been  in  conversation  for  some 
time,  and  each  of  us  seeming  to  be  in  consultation  with  his 
own  thoughts,  our  attention  was  drawn  to  an  object  in 
the  grass,  a  few  rods  from  us  and  north  of  the  road.  We 
looked  steadily  for  a  few  minutes,  and  as  we  drew 
nearer  I  thought  it  looked  like  a  living  thing.  My  friend 
remarked:  "It  is  a  buzzard,"  adding,  "it  has  been  wound 
ed  and  cannot  fly."  As  I  sat  nearer  it,  he  gave  me  his 
revolver,  saying:  "Go  out  and  shoot  it."  Carefully  I 
descended  from  my  seat  and  started  for  the  buzzard,  re 
volver  in  hand  and  ready  for  the  attack,  creeping  along  as 
slyly  as  a  cat  stealing  upon  a  mouse ;  with  eye  fixed  on  my 


134  NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB 

intended  game.  The  thing  seemed  to  be  looking  directly 
at  me.  My  friend  was  calling  to  me:  " Shoot,  shoot."  But 
I  noticed  it  did  not  move  or  change  position.  When  I  had 
gone  one-half  the  distance,  I  made  a  discovery.  Quickly 
dropping  my  revolver  to  my  side,  I  quietly  walked  back  .to 
the  wagon.  During  the  time  I  was  returning,  my  friend 
was  anxiously  inquiring  what  it  was.  When  I  was  again 
mounted,  I  said  to  him:  "It  is  the  skull  of  an  ox,  partly 
covered  with  grass,  with  one  horn  pointing  upward." 
Then  he  laughed  heartily  at  me  for  creeping  up  so  care 
fully  to  shoot  at  the  head  of  a  dead  ox. 

Deadman's  Creek  was  a  place  of  our  one  night's  so 
journ.  Here  was  a  low  rough  building,  house  and  barn 
combined,  used  for  an  exchange  station  by  the  Wyoming 
Stage  Company,  and  thirty  miles  east  from  the  Cheyenne 
River  crossing.  One  hostler  was  the  Robinson  Crusoe  of 
the  place;  he  also  had  been  informed  of  the  Indians  tak 
ing  the  warpath,  and  was  constantly  on  the  lookout,  and 
every  brush  on  the  creek  that  contained  a  red  leaf  ap 
peared  to  him  to  be  an  Indian  in  blanket.  We  had  no 
lingering  desire  to  remain  longer  than  necessary  at  Dead 
man's  Creek,  and  we  were  on  the  road,  as  the  Floridian 
would  have  it,  "away  soon  in  the  morning."  I  learned 
that  the  name  of  this  creek  originated  from  the  cause  of 
so  many  white  men  being  killed  at  and  near  the  crossing. 
There  was  an  Indian  trail  rising  at  Rosebud  Agency,  lo 
cated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  Territory,  on  the 
south  fork  of  the  White  River.  The  trail  bears  away  in 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  135 

a  northerly  direction,  crossing  Deadman's  Creek,  at  this 
change  station,  leading  north  to  Fort  Bennett,  and  to 
unite  with  Sitting  Bull's  and  other  hostile  tribes  in  North 
Dakota  and  the  British  Possessions. 

At  different  times  in  the  year,  principally  in  the 
spring  time,  when  the  grass  began  to  grow,  the  Indians 
would  experience  a  change  of  heart,  (for  the  bad),  and 
would  travel  this  trail,  back  and  forth,  skulk  in  the  thick 
brush  along  the  creek,  and  with  their  rifles  pick  off  the 
whites  who  were  migrating  to  the  Black  Hills.  There 
were  numerous,  nameless  little  mounds  to  be  seen,  the  only 
mark  and  resting  place  of  many  an  honest,  industrious 
white  man,  on  whom  misfortune  had  fallen  in  the  old 
states,  and  who  had  risked  all  to  cross  the  wild  and  perilous 
plains  of  Dakota,  hoping  to  reach  the  gold  fields  of  the 
West,  that  he  might  better  fortune  for  his  dear  ones,  and 
had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  the  copper-faced  American. 
Who  can  say  the  "noble  Redman?"  What  has  ever  been 
accomplished  by  the  savage  that  he  should  appear  noble 
to  the  eyes  of  the  civilized  world? 

After  reaching  the  summit  of  Peno  Hill,  we  halted 
long  enough  to  partake  of  a  cold  lunch  and  feed  our  horses 
grain,  then  passed  on  for  the  south  fork  of  the  Cheyenne 
River,  which  we  reached  when  the  sun  was  about  one  hour 
high.  Finding  no  road  to  the  water,  the  bank  high  and 
almost  perpendicular,  we  set  our  California  break,  tied  the 
wheels  with  rope,  and  began  to  descend  the  precipice.  The 
sand  was  loose  and  deep ;  the  horses  were  in  to  their  knees, 


136  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

the  wagon  to  the  hub,  and  suddenly,  horses,  wagon  and 
sand  went  sliding  down  the  embankment,  all  together.  Af 
ter  reaching  the  base,  which  we  did  without  damage,  we 
forded  the  river  at  Smithville,  and  drove  up  inside  the 
stockade,  where  we  were  to  remain  for  the  night. 

The  south  fork  of  the  Cheyenne  Kiver  rises  in  Wy 
oming,  and  flows  east  around  the  south  foot  of  the  Black 
Hills,  then  in  a  northeast  direction.  The  north  fork  of 
the  Cheyenne,  also  rises  in  Wyoming  and  flows  in  a  south 
easterly  direction  around  the  north  foothills,  then  east, 
twelve  miles  north  of  Smithville,  where  the  two  forks  unite 
their  forces  and  constitute  the  Big  Cheyenne  River,  which 
flows  in  an  easterly  direction  and  contributes  its  waters 
to  the  Missouri  River,  north  of  Fort  Bennett.  Smithville 
consists  of  one  log  cabin  with  log  stable  adjoining,  enclosed 
with  an  eight  foot  stockade,  and  is  situated  on  the  west 
side  of  the  south  fork  of  the  Cheyenne  River. 

At  this  place  my  friend  met  with  another  and  greater 
misfortune.  Almost  immediately  after  stabling  our  teams, 
one  of  the  wheel  horses  fell  sick.  My  friend  treated  him 
with  such  medicine  as  he  had  with  him.  After  we  had 
partaken  of  the  repast  prepared  at  the  cabin  for  us,  I 
went  with  him  to  see  his  patient.  I  deemed  the  chances 
against  us  and  inquired  if  I  could  be  of  assistance,  but 
my  friend  thought  it  was  not  necessary  for  both  of  us  to 
remain,  and  that  I  had  better  retire,  assuring  me  that  he 
would  have  the  horse  right  in  the  morning.  I  walked  to 
our  wagon  and  was  soon  in  bed  and  lulled  to  rest  by  the 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  137 

rippling  waters  of  the  Cheyenne.  I  did  not  waken  until 
the  gray  light  was  shining  in  the  east  and  my  friend  was 
at  the  wagon  calling  for  me.  He  had  lost  all  hope  of 
saving  the -life  of  his  horse.  I  went  with  him,  but  we  were 
only  in  time  to  see  the  faithful  servant  breathing  his  last. 
We  were  not  detained  long  at  the  ranch;  it  was  early/ 
morning  and  we  were  determined  to  move  westward.  Ar 
rangements  were  consummated  with  Mr.  Smith,  the  pro 
prietor  of  the  place,  for  the  disposition  of  the  dead  horse. 
With  the  runaway  horse  harnessed  in  his  place,  and  my 
trotter  bringing  up  the  rear,  we  were  soon  climbing  the 
bluff  for  the  open  prairie. 

We  were  now  fairly  in  the  part  of  the  country  where 
the  Indians  were  said  to  be.  In  fact,  we  had  been  on  In 
dian  ground  for  the  most  part  of  the  way,  but  the  Plum 
Creek  report  placed  the  hostiles  west  of  the  Cheyenne 
River.  We  had  heard  no  different  report  from  the  first 
and  were  on  the  lookout  for  the  blood-thirsties.  Excellent 
weather  was  favoring  us,  and  as  we  journeyed  on  day 
after  day,  feeling  that  we  were  n earing  our  destination, 
we  grew  more  bold  and  traveled  with  less  anxiety,  as  we 
believed  ourselves  to  be  so  far  west  as  not  to  be  in  much 
danger  of  coming  in  contact  with  the  Indians.  True,  their 
whereabouts  was  unknown,  and  the  unevenness  of  the  coun 
try  offered  good  opportunities  for  operating  with  their 
marauding  parties,  but  we  were  to  some  degree  cheered 
by  our  good  fortune  in  not  having  been  molested  thus  far. 

12 


138  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

Suddenly  my  friend,  whose  eye  rarely  missed  a  mov 
ing  object,  looked  southward  and  saw  something  over  the 
hill  several  huodred  yards  from  the  road.  "  There  are  the 
Indians,"  he  exclaimed.  I  turned  in  the  direction  he  had 
indicated,  and  there  beheld,  looming  before  us,  the 
feathers  in  the  war  bonnets  on  the  heads  of  several  red 
skins.  They  were  evidently  hiding  behind  the  ridges  and 
peeping  over  the  edge  at  us.  The  Sioux  were  now  in 
possession  of  the  field.  This  was  to  us  sufficient  and  reli 
able  confirmation  of  the  report  at  Plum  Creek.  The  Sioux 
were  active  on  the  white  man's  trail  in  those  days,  and  I 
had  no  doubt  the  red  gentry  had  become  indignant  in  re 
gard  to  a  misunderstanding  in  some  business  transaction 
with  Uncle  Sam,  and  believing  themselves  ill  treated,  had 
donned  their  decorations,  and  gone  forth  on  the  warpath, 
to  avenge  their  wrongs  by  appropriating  a  few  scalps  from 
the  heads  of  the  pale  faces.  We  now  believed  the  Indians 
in  hostilities,  and  that  war  to  the  knife  was  to  follow^ 
Seated  on  the  box,  I  was  a  good  deal  like  the  Scotchman 
who  said  nothing,  but  kept  a  deil-o  '-a-thinkin '.  I  could 
devise  no  plan  by  which  we  could  avoid  an  attack,  as  we 
could  not  better  the  matter  by  fast  driving.  They  at  their 
pleasure  would  rush  upon  us,  stampede  the  horses,  take  our 
hair  and  sneak  away  to  their  wigwams.  Life  I  considered 
only  a  matter  of  a  few  moments  light  on  earth,  and  even 
for  that  short  space  of  time  a  thing  we  dare  not  call  our 
own. 


The  horses  were  quietly  walking,  and  as  we  intently 
watched  the  savages,  we  could  see  them  growing  larger, 
coming  nearer  and  adding  to  their  number,  creeping  cat 
like  up  the  hill,  as  if  to  gain  a  better  position  before 
charging  upion  their  prey.  Now  that  we  had  found  the 
Indians— or  they  had  found  us — our  case  was  settled.  In 
my  own  mind,  my  head  was  hatless,  my  hair  had  risen  on 
end,  preparatory  for  the  Redskins'  scalping  knife,  and  all 
that  was  necessary  to  complete  the  tragedy  was  that  they 
should  leap  from  their  place  of  concealment,  sound  their 
war-whoop,  and  gather  in  the  spoils.  My  thoughts  were 
many  and  followed  in  rapid  succession;  none  were  perma 
nent  among  them.  These  words  I  remembered  having 
heard  uttered  by  some  eastern  adventurer  in  the  gold 
regions  in  Dakota,  and  I  regretted  not  having  taken  unto 
myself  this  good  advice: 

"Don't  go  away,  stay  at  home  if  you  can; 
Stay  far  from  that  city  they  call  Cheyenne, 
Where  old  Sitting  Bull  and  Commanche  Bill 
Will  lift  up  your  hair,  in  the  dreary  Black  Hills." 

While  those  wild  and  uncontrollable  imaginings  were 
rushing  through  my  brain,  there  appeared  before  us  a 
squadron  of  mounted  soldiers,  and  so  near  us  that  we  could 
plainly  see  their  United  States  Army  uniform,  the  dark 
blue  blouse,  and  the  bright  blue  trousers.  There  was  a 
bend  in  the  road  in  front  of  us;  I  thought  the  distance 
between  us  and  that  bend  in  the  road  about  the  same  as 


142  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE, 

the  distance  between  us  and  the  soldiers.  We  were  mov 
ing  to  the  southwest,  the  soldiers  seemed  to  be  in  the  road, 
moving  to  the  southeast,  and  we,  (the  soldiers  and  our 
selves)  were  all  moving  towards  the  bend  in  the  road. 
This  we  took  to  be  a  reeonnoitering  party  sent  out  from 
some  of  the  military  posts  in  search  of  the  hostile  Indians. 
We  saw  them  move  up  at  a  smart  trot,  then  to  an  easy 
gallop,  and  slowly  descend  as  if  to  the  valley.  They  dis 
appeared,  one  after  the  other,  until  all  were  hidden  from 
our  sight.  We  were  diligently  watching,  thinking  each 
moment  to  see  them  in  the  road  in  front  of  us,  or  riding  in 
some  direction  on  the  prairie,  but  strange  as  it  may  ap 
pear,  we  never  saw  them  again. 

While  we  were  watching  and  hoping  that  the  sol 
diers  would  come  our  way,  the  strange  figures  over  the 
hill  boldly  appeared  on  the  summit,  and  there,  to  our 
great  and  very  agreeable  surprise,  we  beheld  the  forms 
of  nine,  well  matured,  wild  turkeys.  To  say  I  never  was 
more  pleased  to  see  turkeys  does  not  express  my  gratitude. 
Talk  about  Christmas  and  Thanksgiving  turkeys!  I  never 
saw  anything  that  would  in  any  way  compare  with  those 
gaudy-plumed  dignitaries,  and  I  considered  being  in  com 
pany  with  those  nine  big  chiefs,  on  the  lonely  prairies  of 
Dakota,  a  great  deal  safer  and  pleasanter  than  with  all 
the  hostile  Redskins  of  the  Sioux  nation.  After  ascertain 
ing  the  fact  that  we  still  lived,  and  congratulating  our 
selves  that  we  had  met  with  no  greater  misfortune  than 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  143 

to  have  witnessed  a  mirage  of  troopers,  and  experienced 
a  hair-bristling  scare  by  a  school  of  grazing  wild  turkeys, 
we  were  restored  to  our  normal  condition  of  understand 
ing  and  continued  on  our  western  tour. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


ELK  CREEK  VALLEY— MY  REVERIE— BULL-DOG  RANCH— SCOOP- 
TOWN— BOWLDER  PARK— METROPOLIS  OF  THE  BLACK 
HILLS— ARRIVAL  AT  THE  RACE-TRACK—RUMORS  ABOUT 
CAMP — THE  STRANGE  HORSE — PRESIDENT  OF  THE  TROT 
TING  AND  RACING  ASSOCIATION  —  THE  POSTPONEMENT- 
CORPULENT  BUTTER— MY  VISIT— TWO  GENTLEMEN  BE 
COME  THE  OWNERS  OF  MY  TROTTER— EASTWARD  BOUND— 
CURLEY  AND  AULD  LANG  SYNE. 

Our  road  west  from  the  Cheyenne  River  a  good  por 
tion  of  the  way  led  through  a  valley  south  and  in  seeing 
distance  of  the  growing  timber  along  the  Elk  Creek,  where 
I  am  told  is  fine  grazing  land,  and  stock  raising  was  ex 
tensively  pursued.  I  shall  not  soon  forget  my  desires 
when  I  beheld  that  beautiful  country,  as  it  was  the  first 
timber  to  meet  my  eye  since  leaving  the  Missouri  River, 
As  we  moved  along  over  those  dry  and  dusty  roads  and 
sun-scorched  prairies,  how  I  longed  for  a  few  hours  visit 
and  rest  at  that  inviting  spot.  I  believed  it  the  most  in 
teresting  part  of  country  that  I  had  seen  from  the  begin 
ning  of  our  journey.  Now  and  again  we  could  see  a  build 
ing,  seemingly  a  dwelling,  peering  through  the  forest,  and 
I  was  thinking  what  a  feast  of  pleasure  I  could  enjoy 


NUGGHTS  OP  EXPERIENCE  145 

seated  on  the  creek  bank  in  the  shade  of  those  sturdy  old 
oaks  and  cottonwoods,  looking  into  that  bubbling  stream  of 
clear  cold  water,  protected  by  the  apparently  affectionate, 
out-reaching  branches  of  the  trees  on  each  side,  as  it  went 
dancing  merrily  along  on  its  way  to  the  Cheyenne  River, 
when  I  was  aroused  from  my  reverie  by  recalling  the  fact 
that  we  could  not  delay  now  for  such  luxuries.  We  had 
started  for  the  races  in  the  Hills,  and  the  fair  was  already 
going  on  at  Deadwood. 

''It  is  a  good  idea,"  said  my  friend,  "to  take  time  by 
the  forelock."  I  answered:  "I  think  that  time  has  taken 
us  by  the  fetlock,  and  possibly  we  shall  arrive  too  late  for 
any  part  of  the  fair."  My  friend  thought  we  would  be 
in  good  time,  as  this  was  only  the  second  day,  and  the  fair 
would  continue  through  the  six  days  of  the  week. 

We  halted  a  few  minutes  one  morning  at  a  place 
about  eight  miles  from  the  foothills,  a  comfortable  looking 
log  house,  with  a  barn  of  hewn  cottonwood  logs  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  and  two  large  white  bulldogs  who 
seemed  to  be  the  patrol  of  the  premises.  A  lady  appeared 
in  front  of  the  house  whose  avoirdupois  would  balance  the 
scales  at  about  one  eighth  of  a  ton.  She  was  sole  propri 
etress  of  the  place,  and  informed  us  that  she  was  compelled 
to  keep  the  dogs  to  induce  the  freighters  not  to  steal  her 
chickens.  This  place  had  gained  some  notoriety  in  the 
early  days  of  the  gold  excitement  in  the  Black  Hills;  it 
was  yet  famous  at  the  time  of  our  arrival,  and  I  believe  at 


146  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

the  present  time  it  retains  the  dignified  title  of  Bull  Dog 
Ranch. 

We  next  came  to  Sturgis,  better  known  in  those  days 
as  Scooptown ;  a  quiet  little  hamlet  nestling  in  the  foothills 
and  ten  miles  from  Deadwood ;  quiet,  I  say,  for  that  region. 
I  had  occasion  to  visit  it  later,  and  during  my  last  night 
in  the  place  there  was  but  one  man  shot. 

We  now  passed  through  the  village  of  Sturgis,  and  at 
the  first  tollgate  we  took  our  way  up  the  mountain  on  the 
new  toll  road  through  Bowlder  Park.  We  had  been  so 
many  days  on  the  unsettled  and  untimbered  prairie,  that 
it  seemed  as  if  we  had  crossed  a  great  desert,  and  were 
entering  a  new  world,  and  I  was  filled  with  enjoyment  of 
the  scene.  The  road  led  us  along  by  the  side  of  a  creek, 
of  which  rough,  precipitous  banks  formed  each  side.  The 
clear  water  dripped  carelessly  over  the  clean  washed  gray 
shelved  rocks,  on  its  descent  to  the  mountain's  base.  The 
old  trees  that  had  fallen  into  and  across  the  stream,  years 
before,  were  still  holding  their  position  and  retaining 
their  heavy  mossy  robes.  The  vines  of  different  kinds  that 
had  crept  over  the  old  logs  and  climbed  the  standing  trees, 
were  in  their  pendulous  and  drapery-like  manner  adding 
to  the  picturesque  scenery.  The  creek  was  densely  shad 
owed  from  the  bright  sun  by  the  overhanging  branches  of 
the  natural  growing  timber,  and  quiet  and  harmony  in 
•ublimity  reigned. 

Farther  on  men  were  laboring  on  the  grounds,  beauti 
fying  the  new  highway,  and  the  feathered  songsters  of  the 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  147 

forest  occasionally  chimed  in  their  sweet  musical  voices 
with  the  echoings  of  the  merry  woodman's  axe,— as  west 
ward,  upward  and  onward  we  went,  admiring  the  beauties 
of  that  natural  pleasure  park,  until  we  reached  the  sum 
mit  where  the  Deadwood  Trotting  Park  was  located.  The 
horses  were  called  for  the  pacing  race,  and  I  could  not 
resist  being  a  spectator.  When  the  heat  was  finished  we 
began  our  three  miles  descent  to  the  metropolis  of  the 
Black  Hills,  and  after  twenty-two  days  on  the  uninhabited 
plains,  we  entered  the  City  of  Deadwood,  completing  the 
longest  drive  I  have  ever  made  to  reach  a  race  meeting. 

It  was  Thursday  night,  four  days  of  the  fair  had 
passed;  the  free-for-all  race  would  be  trotted  Saturday, 
and  I  must  devote  my  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  wel 
fare  of  my  old  trotter.  Gold-dust  had  been  right  on  his 
feed  all  the  way;  he  had  eaten  a  good  quantity  of  oats, 
plenty  of  grass  and  several  holes  in  the  wagon  cover.  He 
much  desired  when  tied  up  to  amuse  himself  by  taking 
hold  of  something  with  his  teeth,  and  making  a  moanful 
noise,  but  the  old  horse  was  feeling  like  a  hound,  eager 
for  a  chase.  On  examination  I  found  his  shoes  entirely 
worn  out,  and  put  him  away  to  await  another  rising  of  the 
sun. 

Gold-dust  came  into  my  possession  some  time  after 
being  shipped  from  the  east.  He  was  a  horse  of  good 
conformation,  kindly  disposed,  and  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  with  as  handsome  a  pair  of  eyes  as  I  have 
ever  seen  in  a  horse's  head.  He  had  but  little  mane  and 


148  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

was  an  inveterate  cribber.  He  had  one  inflexible  ankle 
joint,  and  the  hair  had  fallen  from  his  tail  until  it  was  left 
a  spike.  With  some  practice  on  his  ankle,  it  was  restored 
almost  to  a  normal  condition.  He  grew  fine  in  flesh  and 
he  was  a  good  actor,  but  while  he  had  received  careful 
treatment,  and  many  of  his  ailments  had  been  success 
fully  and  satisfactorily  repaired,  there  still  remained  with 
him  two  lamentable  faults;  I  never  could  put  a  new  tail 
on  him  or  cure  him  of  his  cribbiting.  After  finding  a  smith 
the  following  day,  I  got  some  shoes  on  the  horse,  and  we— 
myself  and  Gold-dust—made  our  appearance  at  the  fair 
ground.  We  aroused  curiosity  from  our  arrival  at  the 
gate,  and  I  met  many  quizzers.  I  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  stables  at  the  farther  side  of  the  grounds,  but  could 
find  no  place  for  the  horse,  the  stalls  were  occupied  by 
farmers  who  had  driven  to  the  fair,  and  no  one  seemed 
willing  to  vacate  for  my  benefit. 

We  had  been  waiting  but  a  few  minutes  when  the 
people  began  to  leave  the  grand-stand  while  the  races 
were  yet  going  on,  to  come  over  to  us,  and  many  ques 
tions  were  asked.  The  president  of  the  fair  came  and 
questioned  me  skillfully,  but  he  did  not  succeed  in  ex 
tracting  any  information  from  me.  I  had  brought  the 
horse  over  the  country  with  a  load  of  butter;  I  thought 
he  could  go  some,  and  I  wanted  to  start  him  in  the  trot. 
The  president  looked  him  over  carefully;  said  something 
about  a  dangerous  horse,  and  walked  away.  The  chances 
for  getting  a  stall  appeared  more  and  more  doubtful.  For- 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPBRIBNCB  149 

tunately,  I  met  a  young  man  with  whom  I  had  had  some 
acquaintance  before  going  to  the  Hills,  who  was  known 
on  the  turf  as  Curley.  Curley  was  handling  some  horses 
for  a  Mr.  Fyler  who  resided  at  Central  City.  Their  horse 
having  trotted  his  race,  they  concluded  to  send  him  home, 
thereby  providing  for  me  a  stall. 

When  the  races  for  the  day  were  over,  I  hitched  to 
the  sulky  and  drove  onto  the  race  track.  The  president 
addressed  me  from  the  Judge's  stand,  saying  there  were 
too  many  people  on  the  track  to  exercise  horses,  but  he 
would  permit  me  to  go  to  the  Back  Stretch.  Some  gentle 
men  had  come  to  the  ground  to  see  my  horse  in  his  exer 
cise,  and  I  walked  him  to  the  part  of  the  track  assigned  to  me 
and  brushed  him  back  and  forth  a  few  times;  to  the  satis 
faction  of  my  new  friends,  who  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  he  was  a  sleek  fellow  and  would  do  to  speculate  on. 
During  the  evening  and  the  following  morning,  there  were 
many  rumors  in  circulation  about  the  camp  concerning 
the  strange  horse.  A  report  was  current  of  a  telegram 
being  received,  stating  that  a  horse,  answering  the  descrip 
tion  of  mine  and  named  Gold-dust,  had  trotted  at  Lincoln, 
Nebraska,  and  at  Denver,  Colorado,  winning  everything 
with  a  record  of  two  twenty-one  and  that  he  had  started 
for  the  Black  Hills.  The  natural  inference  was  that  this 
must  be  the  horse.  It  was  found  that  Curley  had  known 
me  before  going  to  the  Hills,  and  it  was  believed  he  could 
tell  something  about  the  horse,  so  Curley  became  a  victim 
of  question  and  consultation.  He  could  be  seen  at  almost 

13 


ISO  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

any  time,  cornered  and  in  close  conversation  with  some  of 
his  anxious  inquiring  friends  of  the  Hills.  Curley  did 
not  know  the  horse  well,  but  believed  he  could  defeat  any 
horse  in  a  race  in  the  West. 

Saturday  morning  was  cold.  After  harnessing  my 
horse,  and  applying  all  the  turf  goods  I  had  with  me,  con 
sisting  of  quarter  boots,  elastic  stockings  in  front,  scalp 
ers,  and  shin  boots  in  the  rear,  I  reached  the  course  and 
found  all  horses  had  gone  to  the  stable,  and  every  man 
on  the  ground  was  out  in  the  grand-stand  or  quarter- 
stretch,  with  watch  in  hand,  waiting  the  exhibition  of 
speed  to  be  shown  by  Gold-dust.  After  exercising,  I  took 
him  to  the  distance  stand  and  turned,  when  he  went  away 
more  like  a  trotter  than  I  had  ever  seen  him.  He  was  as 
open  as  the  smile  of  an  alligator,  and  as  active  as  a  flock 
of  scared  bats. 

I  pondered  on  the  carnival  I  could  have  in  a  race 
with  that  speed  with  substance  to  carry  it,  but  detected 
sufficient  evidence  to  justify  me  in  believing  that  all  was 
not  quite  right  with  us.  The  altitude  of  seven  miles  was 
too  high;  the  air  was  either  too  light  for  Gold-dust,  or 
his  wind  was  too  heavy  for  the  air;  surely  something  was 
out  of  kilter,  for  his  breathing  apparatus  did  not  harmonize 
with  the  mountainous  atmosphere.  When  taken  back, 
however,  after  leaving  the  score,  until  turning  the  home 
stretch,  he  had  the  appearance  of  a  race  horse  to  the  finish, 
and  showed  the  boys  a  high  rate  of  speed.  This  I  discov 
ered  caused  some  uneasiness  among  owners  and  drivers, 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  151 

and  some  were  desirous  to  buy  Gold-dust.  With  one  man 
I  bargained  at  a  fair  price,  with  the  understanding,  at 
his  request,  that  I  would  drive  the  horse  in  his  race,  but 
owing  to  his  inability  to  get  the  cash  on  his  collateral, 
the  case  went  by  default. 

The  free-for-all  race  filled  with  five  entries,  pacers 
and  trotters,  Gold-dust  and  Bill  Morgan  being  the  trot 
ters.  Coyote  was  the  name  of  one  pacer ;  the  names  of  the 
others  I  do  not  recall.  There  had  been  a  dash  of  rain  in 
the  morning,  accompanied  by  a  cold  northwest  wind,  but 
it  passed  over  and  we  thought  the  day  a  passably  fair  one, 
considering  the  altitude  and  season  of  the  year.  The 
track  was  in  fine  condition.  The  fair  had  been  carried  on 
for  five  consecutive  days,  and  the  people  of  the  Hills  look 
ed  farward  to  the  sixth  and  last  day  as  a  day  of  crowning 
efforts.  A  strange  horse  was  known  to  be  in  their  midst, 
and  the  free-for-all  was  looked  for  as  a  race  of  great  in 
terest. 

Dinner  was  over  and  the  time  for  the  race  had  drawn 
near.  The  horses  were  not  yet  called,  and  some  of  us 
walked  to  the  stretch  to  learn  the  cause.  In  the  judge's 
stand,  like  a  statue,  stood  a  man  whose  height  was  about 
four  feet;  his  weight  two  hundred  pounds;  he  was  robed 
in  a  suit  of  navy  blue  broadcloth;  his  left  hand  was  hid 
den  in  his  pantaloons  pocket;  his  right  hand  grasped  the 
bell  cord;  two  small  American  flags  adorned  his  left  breast, 
and  the  cover  on  his  head  resembled  a  Japanese  soup 
bowl.  This  man  was  the  president  of  the  Trotting  and 


152  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

Racing  Association  of  the  Black  Hills.  The  president  rang 
the  bell  for  quietness,  that  he  might  speak  unto  the  multi 
tude;  when  all  was  still,  he  said: 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen:  I  regret  that  owing  to  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  the  bad  attendance  during 
the  several  days  of  the  fair,  we  are  obliged  to  postpone 
the  free-for-all  race.  We  will  at  some  future  time,  not  far 
distant,  give  the  purse,  and  more  with  it,  for  a  trotting 
race.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  the  fair  is  now  closed  at 
Deadwood  Trotting  Park." 

As  the  race  (Gold-dust,  rather)  was  postponed  and 
there  was  no  more  amusement  on  the  turf,  I  betook  myself 
to  Central  City,  where  I  became  better  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Fyler,  whom  I  found  to  be  one  of  the  noblest  hearted 
men  of  the  age.  Curley  was  with  him  and  I  spent  many 
pleasant  days  with  them. 

Soon  after  reaching  Deadwood,  my  friend  with  whom 
I  crossed  the  plains  engaged  to  carry  an  electioneering 
party,  with  his  team,  to  the  different  towns  in  the  Hills, 
and  I  did  not  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  him  again 
before  my  departure.  I  never  knew  with  what  success  he 
disposed  of  his  property,  but  I  thought  he  should  have 
sold  to  good  advantage.  The  horses  were  fat  and  strong, 
and  the  butter  would  very  favorably  compare  with  the 
horses.  Talk  about  butter— this  was  the  highest,  corpu 
lent  grade,  and  required  the  united  dexterity  of  four  able- 
bodied  men  to  land  it  in  the  warehouse.  It  was  my  opinion 
that  ingenuity  enough  to  remove  it  from  its  quarters  did 


NUGGHTS  OF  EXPERIENCE  153 

not  exist  in  the  hills;  with  last  report,  it  was  successfully 
holding  the  fort. 

I  visited  a  number  of  villages  in  the  Hills,  but  was  a 
greater  part  of  my  time  in  Deadwood,  where  dwelt  two 
gentlemen  who  had  become  the  owners  of  my  trotter,  at  a 
very  satisfactory  figure.  They  considered  him  a  fine  pros 
pect  for  the  next  year's  racing  circuit  in  the  Black  Hills, 
but  the  winter  was  a  frosty  one,  and  I  am  told  that  long 
before  his  next  racing  season  appeared,  the  old  trotter 
cashed  up  his  checks  and  passed  over  the  range  to  race  no 
more.  Snow  had  fallen  and  my  visit  in  the  Hills  termin 
ated.  The  season  had  grown  late;  it  was  well  on  towards 
winter;  the  weather  was  wet  and  cold  in  the  gulches.  I 
concluded  that  I:  did  not  wish  to  remain  longer;  having 
disposed  of  my  horse  I  was  lonely,  and  being  free  to  go 
at  my  pleasure,  one  wintry  day,  after  saying  farewell  to 
my  friend  Curley  and  new  acquaintances,  I  engaged  pass 
age  to  Fort  Pierre  with  a  mule  train,  and  departed,  east 
ward  bound,  from  the  dreary  Black  Hills. 

The  weather  changed  for  the  better;  the  snow  disap 
peared;  the  sun  shone  brightly  on  the  open  country,  and 
I  enjoyed  an  exceedingly  pleasant  trip  over  the  prairie 
with  the  mule  skinners,  that  being  the  title  assigned  to  the 
drivers  of  mules  in  that  country.  I  was  kindly  given 
room  in  the  tent  at  night.  I  maintained  a  magnificent  ap 
petite,  and  did  justice  to  the  coffee,  warm  biscuit  and  ba 
con.  I  sometimes  sat  on  a  wagon  and  drove  a  team  of 
eight  mules  with  one  jerk  rein.  Again,  I  was  on  horse- 


154  NUGGETS  OF  HXPBRIBNCH 

back  with  the  boys,  driving  the  loose  stock  in  front.  So 
enjoyable  were  the  days,  and  evenings  passed  with  song 
and  joke,  that  when  we  reached  Fort  Pierre  at  the  end 
of  nine  days,  all  expressed  regrets  at  being  obliged  to 
separate.  For  a  short  time  I  felt  as  if  I  would  like  to  be 
a  mule  driver  and  always  dwell  on  the  prairies. 

Again  I  said  farewell,  crossed  the  Big  Muddy,  en 
gaged  state  room  on  the  last  steamer  of  the  season  for 
Yankton,  where,  after  three  days,  I  was  safely  landed, 
and  remained  through  the  winter. 

Curley  informed  me  later  that  he  left  the  Hills  in 
the  following  February,  and  when  we  occasionally  meet 
on  the  turf,  we  invariably  indulge  in  a  pleasant  chat, 
while  smoking  the  Havana  weed,  in  remembrance  of  oc 
currences  in  the  Black  Hills,  and  days  of  "Auld  Lang 
Syne." 


Ten  Days  in  the  Flood  on  the 
Missouri  River 

A  NARRATIVE  OF  THE  EXPERIENCE  OF  A  RESCUING  PARTY 

ON  THE    SUBMERGED  BOTTOMS  BELOW  YANKTON. 
GRAPHIC  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  GREAT  OVERFLOW— WONDERFUL 

SIGHTS  AND  SCENES— THRILLING  ADVENTURES, 
MIRACULOUS  ESCAPES  AND  AGONIZING  SUFFERING. 


March,    1881. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


THE  COLD  WINTER— BREAKING  OP  THE  ICE— A  VENTURESOME 
PEOPLE— THE  STEAMER  WESTERN— THE  GORGE  UNBROKEN 
—HANSON'S  LANDING— OUR  FIRST  DUTY  AS  RESCUERS— 
THE  BLESSINGS  OF  A  DELIGHTED  YOUNG  WIFE— THE  HOUSE 

THAT  BECAME  HISTORIC. 

The  winter  of  1880-81  was  a  severe  one  in  Dakota; 
it  is  said  by  the  older  inhabitants  to  be  the  coldest  winter, 
with  the  greatest  amount  of  snow-fall,  ever  known  in  that 
country.  As  my  memory  serves  me,  there  was  almost  con 
tinuous  snow,  with  blizzard  accompaniment,  from  about 
the  15th  of  December  until  the  last  days  of  February, 
making  travel,  either  by  rail  or  team,  an  impossibility 
a  great  deal  of  the  time. 

The  calendar  informed  us  that  the  winter  days  had 
passed  away,  but  the  great  solid  piles  of  snow  that  had 
drifted  during  the  cold  months  were  yet  remaining  with 
us,  and  presenting  an  appearance  of  having  recently  been 
made. 

The  breaking  up  of  the  ice  in  the  Missouri  River  had 
been  looked  for  for  many  days,  but  the  cold  winter  had 
made  the  ice  very  thick  and  strong,  and  no  evidence  of  its 
failing  strength  was  yet  visible;  under  the  prevailing  cir- 


158  NUGGBTS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

cumstances,  something  more  than  the  ordinary,  unforeseen 
happenings  were  expected  at  the  break-up. 

The  citizens  of  Yankton  were  much  concerned  regard 
ing  the  safety  of  the  people  residing  on  the  Missouri  and 
Jim  (James)  River  bottom  lands  in  case  of  an  overflow.  Al 
though  those  people  had  never,  in  former  years,  experi 
enced  a  destructive  overflow,  they  were  constantly,  when 
opportunity  permitted  advising  and  soliciting  the  farm 
ers  to  move  their  families  to  the  highlands. 

We,  who  have  lived  in  a  land  of  plenty,  know  but 
little  of  the  numerous  privations  that  had  to  be  taken 
into  consideration  and  submitted  to,  before  a  comfortable 
living  condition  could  be  successfully  reached  in  an  un 
settled  country  in  the  far  West  in  the  early  days,  by  the 
people  who  migrated  there  in  search  of  better  fortunes 
for  themselves  and  homes  for  their  families.  To  endure 
the  many  difficulties  they  well  knew,  and  many  they  did 
not  know  which  must  be  endured  in  an  uncivilized  world, 
where  all  things  were  of  the  wildest  and  nature  still  un 
tamed,  not  forgetting  their  continuous  exposure  to  the 
ever  barbarious  scalping  knife  of  the  life-seeking  wild  In 
dian;  they  were  surely  a  venturesome  people. 

Such  was  the  class  of  people  who  settled  on  the 
bottom  lands  of  the  Missouri  and  ''Jim"  River  in  the  early 
days  of  Dakota;  consequently  they  were  not  moved  at 
warning  of  danger  in  times  of  peace  and  prosperity.  It 
was  their  home— their  all— the  small  accumulations  of 
long  and  toilsome  years;  they  could  not  go;  they  chose  to 


NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIHNCE  159 

remain,  let  fortune  be  what  it  would,  and  the  long  looked 
for  day  came. 

On  Sunday,  March  27th,  the  ice  gave  way  in  the  river 
at  Yankton.  Hundreds  of  people  were  on  the  banks  to 
witness  its  going  out,  and  the  sight  was  grand;  but  as 
I  stood  there  in  silence,  gazing  upon  those  acres  of  ice 
moving  down  in  a  gigantic  body,  sweeping  all  before  it, 
a  tremulous  sensation  seemed  to  creep  over  me,  as  if  I  were 
dreading  an  approaching  calamity. 

The  steamer  " Western,"  the  only  boat  not  placed 
on  the  repair  ways,  was  caught  with  the  earliest  moving 
ice,  and  held  so  close  to  the  bank  as  to  make  her  unable 
to  rise  with  the  tide.  Men  labored  with  her  as  in  case 
of  saving  human  life,  but  she  sprang  aleak,  sank  partly 
under  water  and  was  pulverized  on  the  spot. 

The  ice  moved  out,  leaving  the  river  below  clear  as  far 
as  could  be  seen  from  the  city.  The  people  rejoiced  that 
no  more  damage  had  been  done;  they  evidently  thought 
all  danger  had  passed,  but  it  was  discovered  later  that 
the  ice  had  first  broken  at  the  upper  end  of  the  river  and 
gorged  near  Springfield,  about  forty  miles  above  us,  which 
very  plainly  explained  the  cause  of  the  river  being  clear 
at  Yankton.  The  ice  remained  unbroken  in  the  river  bed 
below,  which  was  an  indication  of  an  overflow,  and  the 
water  had  already  commenced  to  make  its  way  out  over 
the  lowlands. 

On  Monday,  the  28th,  the  ice  above  began  giving  way 
and  moved  slowly  down  on  the  Nebraska  side  of  the  river, 


160  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

the  Dakota  side  running  clear  until  late  in  the  afternoon, 
when  all  were  excited  about  the  city— danger  was  antici 
pated  on  the  Missouri  bottoms.  Captain  Lavender,  with 
yawl  and  crew,  went  to  warn  some  of  the  people  of  the 
coming  of  the  water,  and  on  his  return,  finding  himself 
cut  off  by  the  ice,  he  abandoned  his  boat  at  the  car  shops, 
one  mile  below  the  city,  and  made  the  remainder  of  his 
way  on  foot. 

On  Tuesday,  the  29th,  the  gorge  was  reported  un 
broken  at  Springfield,  and  the  rising  of  the  water  was  not 
as  rapid  as  it  proved  to  be  later.  The  floating  ice,  con 
tinually  being  forced  on  to  the  unbroken  ice  in  the  river 
bed  a  few  miles  below  Yankton,  forming  a  dam,  and 
throwing  the  water  onto  the  Dakota  side— where  it  con 
tinued  to  flow  through  the  night,  seemed  conclusive  evi 
dence  in  my  mind  that  the  greatest  flood  ever  known  on 
the  Missouri  River  was  then  taking  place. 

Being  informed  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  the 
amount  of  water  then  on  the  bottom  lands;  knowing  the 
locality  of  some  families  and  their  danger  of  being  swept 
away  should  the  water  rise  with  velocity,  and  thinking 
it  would  be  a  loss  of  time  to  wait  to  get  and  man  a  yawl, 
as  I  believed  the  water  yet  too  shallow  in  many  places  to 
move  so  large  a  boat,  I  immediately  secured  a  skiff,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  'Fred  Kincel,  with  his  team, 
succeeded  in  getting  my  boat  to  the  hill,  known  during 
the  flood  as  Hanson's  Landing.  This  landing  was  in  the 
public  highway  leading  from  the  city  of  Yankton  in  a 


NUGGETS  OP  HXPBRIBNCB  161 

northeasterly  direction  to  the  Jim  River  bridge.  It  is  two 
mile*  from  Yankton  and  one  mile  from  the  bridge,  where 
the  road  ascends  from  the  bottom  to  the  upland  or  prairie. 

When  arriving  at  the  landing  I  met  a  young  man  who 
was  anxiously  watching  an  opportunity  to  reach  his  peo 
ple  in  the  flooded  regions.  He  expressed  a  desire  to  go 
with  me  and  we  started  on  our  voyage.  I  found  the  water 
shallow,  as  anticipated,  with  an  inch  of  ice  that  had 
formed  over  it  the  night  before,  which  proved  a  hindrance 
to  us,  as  we  were  compelled  to  break  the  ice  in  front  be 
fore  we  could  go  forward  After  working  some  time  we 
reached  a  snowdrift;  taking  the  boat  from  the  water  we 
drew  it  on  the  snow  with  good  results,  but  we  found  the 
end  of  the  snowdrift  and  again  took  to  the  water. 

We  passed  near  a  farm  residence,  where  two  or  three 
women  and  as  many  men  were  standing  on  straw  covered 
sheds,  who  were  loudly  laughing  and  having  a  merry  time 
as  they  watched  the  movements  of  the  ice  and  water,  ap 
parently  wholly  unconcerned  as  to  any  danger  that  could 
come  to  them.  The  water  was  then  three  feet  deep  about 
the  outbuildings;  a  skiff  was  moored  near  by,  and  I  said 
to  them:  "Had  you  not  better  go  to  the  land?  I  think 
the  water  will  be  still  higher/'  But  they  only  scoffed  at 
iny  warnings  as  a  reward.  When  returning  after  several 
days  in  the  submerged  country,  I  met  the  same  party  at 
the  house  of  Major  Hanson  on  the  hill— a  very  meek 
family  of  people. 


162  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIBNCH 

Soon  after  leaving  the  farm  residence,  we  came  to  a 
new  railroad  grade,  where  we  took  the  boat  from  the  wa 
ter  again  and  drew  it  on  the  sleek  surface  about  eighty 
rods;  when  at  this  point  we  got  a  sudden  rise  of  ten 
inches  more  water,  and  we  launched  the  little  life  pre 
server,  as  she  proved  to  be,  once  more— this  time  in  the 
railroad  ditch,  which  we  followed  to  the  open  prairie  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Jim  River.  Up  to  this  time  our  progress 
had  been  greatly  retarded,  owing  to  the  shoal  water  and 
the  thin  ice.  The  water  began  coming  in  waves;  the  thin 
ice  gave  way  before  it,  and  a  boat  could  be  handled  with 
more  ease  and  speed. 

As  we  floated  out  onto  the  open  prairie,  there  appear 
ed  to  us  our  first  duty,  as  rescuers.  About  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  from  us  was  a  man  on  horseback,  in  the 
water,  who  had  started  to  cross  the  Jim  River  bridge. 
He  had  reached  the  unbroken  ice,  and  the  moving  ice  had 
so  completely  closed  in  on  his  rear  as  to  not  allow  the 
horse  to  move  either  way.  A  number  of  men  and  women 
were  on  the  bluff  as  spectators,  but  with  no  means  of 
aiding  him,  and  they  called  to  us  for  help.  I  thought  it 
must  have  seemed  a  discouraging  case  to  the  poor  fellow, 
before  he  saw  the  little  boat  floating  out  through  the  brush 
lining  the  Jim  River.  There  he  sat  on  the  horse,  thirty 
rods  or  more  from  land,  his  legs  in  water  to  the  knees; 
the  ice  rushing  about  in  the  rapidly  rising  water,  making 
moaning  noises,  like  brutes  in  great  agony.  I  imagined 
he  was  thinking  that  he  would  ere  long  be  swallowed  up 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  163 

in  the  wild  and  angry  waves.  Fortunately  we  were  in 
good  time  for  the  rescue  and  we  hastened  to  his  assistance, 
changing  our  column,  rear  to  the  front,  broke  and  parted 
the  ice  as  the  boat  moved  backward,  until  a  channel  waa 
opened  and  the  horse  relieved  from  his  paralytic  condi 
tion  in  the  ice.  Then  moving  forward,  allowing  the  horse 
to  follow  in  the  boat's  wake,  we  proceeded  shoreward.  The 
horse  appeared  to  understand  something  of  the  situation 
and  was  anxious  for  deliverance.  His  rider  required  fre 
quent  warning  to  hold  back,  lest  he  climb  in  and  capsize 
the  boat,  an  act  I  did  not  care  to  have  him  indulge  in  at 
that  season  of  the  year,  with  the  temperature  of  the  water 
at  freezing  point.  However,  we  arrived  safe  in  the  haven 
with  our  charge,  and  received  the  blessings  of  a  delighted 
young  wife. 

At  this  place  is  located  a  brick  house,  which  will 
appear  conspicuously  in  this  narrative.  A  brief  descrip 
tion  of  this  house  will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader,  as  a 
better  understanding  of  the  country  in  which  we  were 
operating  can  thus  be  obtained : 

It  was  a  two  story,  brick  dwelling,  and  was  the  prop 
erty  of  Lewis  Volin;  it  was  located  on  the  north  bluff, 
about  one  mile  east  from  the  Jrn  River  bridge  and  fronted 
to  the  south,  overlooking  both  fie  Missouri  and  Jim  Rivers 
and  their  bottom  lands,  also  fie  Nebraska  bluff,  south  of 
the  Missouri  River.  As  a  greater  portion  of  the  people  of 
the  flooded  district  in  Yankton  County  were  taken  to 
Yankton,  they  were  landed  at  the  brick  house,  where  pro- 


164  NUGGHTS  OP  BXPHRIBNCB 

visions  were  provided,  and  when  navigation  permitted 
they  were  transferred  to  the  west  side  of  the  Jim  River. 
This  house  was  used  for  a  general  rendezvous  and  head 
quarters  for  all  parties  going  from  and  corning  to,  or 
operating  on  the  submerged  bottoms. 


CHAPTER  XV 


ARRIVAL  AT  THE  PARKAS  PLACE — THE  LITTLE  SKIFF  AT  SEA — 
TERRIFIC  STORM— THIRTY-SIX  HOURS'  IMPRISONMENT- 
DANGER  NOT  FULLY  REALIZED— MERCURY  HOVERING 
AROUND  ZERO— IN  YOUNGER  DAYS— PRETERNATURAL 
SCENERY— ARRIVAL  OF  CAPTAIN  LAVENDER  WITH  YAWL 
AND  CREW— SEARCHING  THE  ICY  COUNTRY  FOR  AN  OUT 
LET—SINGING  ON  THE  WATER  A  BAD  OMEN— CAPTAIN  NO 
BLE  AT  THE  HELM. 

To  return  to  our  subject:  Touching  land  at  the  brick 
house  a  few  minutes  only,  we  were  again  on  the  waves,  pull 
ing  for  the  residence  of  the  Parks  family,  some  miles  to  the 
southeast  and  towards  the  Missouri  River.  Having  lately 
received  another  new  supply  of  water,  we  could  now  propel 
our  little  craft  with  considerable  speed,  and  arrived  at  the 
Parks'  place  about  4  p.  m.— in  good  time,  but  not  a  mo 
ment  too  soon.  This  house  was  a  one-story  dwelling— one 
part  of  logs,  the  adjoining  part  being  of  frame.  There 
were  ten  inches  of  water  on  the  floor,  and  the  two  families 
—Parks  and  Lagrants,  were  taking  refuge  on  the  beds, 
chairs  and  tables.  The  water  was  gradually  rising,  with 
no  possible  way  for  escape,  until  our  arrival.  A  hurried 
consultation,  and  the  little  skiff  was  immediately  put  to  sea, 


168  NUGGHTS  OF  HXPBRIHNCH 

to  carry  the  women  and  children  to  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Clark  West.  The  distance,  as  I  could  learn,  was  about  one 
mile,  as  the  bird  flies,  and  it  was  the  nearest  two-story 
dwelling  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  treacherous  appearance  of  the  location  we  were 
leaving  will  not  easily  be  forgotten  by  those  who  were  eye 
witness.  As  night  came  on,  the  water  deepened  and  was  rac 
ing  furiously  through  the  trees  and  snow  banks,  as  if  deter 
mined  to  sweep  everything  with  it,  and  everything  that 
came  in  contact  with  the  current  was  carried  away. 

While  some  of  our  party  were  yet  standing  on  a  large 
snow  drift,  watching  for  the  return  of  the  boat,  the  frame 
part  of  the  house  quickly  raised  to  the  surface  of  the  water 
and  toppled  over  on  its  side.  There  were  nine  of  us  to  be 
carried  in  the  skiff  over  that  body  of  turbulent  water,  but 
with  the  kind  providence  of  the  all-wise  Father,  we  were 
all,  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  West, 
where  I  found  we  were  not  the  only  party  seeking  refuge, 
for  three  other  families  had  previously  taken  up  quarters 
there. 

This,  being  the  first  night,  with  the  terrific  appearance 
put  forth  by  the  water  and  ice,  I  considered  the  severest 
test  for  weak  hearts,  of  all  my  ten  days  and  nights'  experi 
ence  with  the  destructions  and  devastations  of  the  flood. 
The  second  story  of  the  house  consisted  of  two  rooms,  tfith 
the  stairs  between  them.  The  west  room  contained  two 
beds,  a  "shake-down"  (with  a  helpless  old  couple  upon  it), 
and  many  things  which  had  been  brought  up  to  be  saved 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  169 

from  the  water.  This  was  the  larger  room  and  was  occupied 
by  the  women  and  children.  In  the  smaller  room  opposite 
were  two  beds,  which  were  occupied  by  the  men. 

As  there  was  no  other  way  of  reaching  the  stairs  from 
the  skiff,  our  party  waded  on  our  arrival  at  the  kitchen 
door ;  the  water  then  being  two  feet  deep  on  the  first  floor. 

All  the  people  had  been  in  the  water  more  or  less  and 
were  wearing  their  wet  clothes.  There  had  been  no  time 
for  making  preparations,  the  water  having  come  upon  the 
people  in  the  lower  localities  suddenly,  allowing  them  barely 
time  to  flee  with  their  lives. 

The  doors  and  windows  of  the  lower  story  were  kept 
open  for  the  free  accession  of  the  water.  The  night  was 
dark  and  cold;  the  water  rushed  with  all  its  fury  and 
mighty  speed  through  and  about  the  house ;  doleful  noises 
could  be  heard  as  the  waves  and  ice  rolled  and  dashed 
against  the  house  and  outbuildings;  the  water  was  rising 
every  moment  with  greater  rapidity;  step  after  step  it 
came  climbing  up  the  stairs  toward  us,  and  no  one  knew 
how  long  the  house  would  resist  the  strain. 

Shortly  after  midnight  the  wind  rose  to  almost  a  hurri 
cane,  making  our  condition  a  more  terrifying  one,  and 
many  an  appeal  in  solemn  prayer  to  the  Father  above  for 
deliverance  was  offered  up  by  those  suffering  people.  My 
anxiety  in  regard  to  more  serious  events  was  concerning  the 
women  and  children,  of  whom  there  were  far  too  many  to 
be  cared  for  with  one  little  skiff,  that  would  safely  carry 
but  three  people  on  the  calmest  sea.  Many  thought*  came 


170  NUGGHTS  OP  BXPBRIHNCB 

to  me,  and  yet  I  did  not  fully  realize  the  extent  of  our  dan 
ger.  The  current  might  change  from  its  course  north  of  us, 
and  break  through  nearer  the  river,  but,  I  reasoned,  there 
were  the  trees  around  the  house,  which  were  a  fair  defence, 
and  the  Jim  River  but  a  short  distance  west  of  us,  with  her 
heavy  line  of  sturdy  cottonwood  on  each  side,  a  much 
greater  protection.  Had  we  been  men  only,  I  would  at 
that  time,  even  with  the  house  forced  from  its  foundation, 
have  thought  our  chances  of  escape  moderately  good,  but 
experience  is  knowledge,  and  knowledge  often  changes  opin 
ion.  Later,  I  found  the  power  of  that  body  of  water  and 
ice  far  beyond  my  anticipations. 

With  all  the  many  difficulties  and  afflictions  we  were 
undergoing,  there  came  one  consolation.  Soon  after  the 
wind  began  to  blow  the  water  stopped  rising,  which  helped 
greatly  to  cheer  the  depressed  spirit  of  our  terror  stricken 
people. 

The  morning  of  the  31st  came,  but  did  not  improve  the 
weather  nor  lessen  the  water,  though  with  the  light  of  day 
our  people  were  of  better  courage. 

Let  us  ponder  a  few  moments  on  the  condition  of  the 
people  on  these  river  bottoms.  It  was  the  month  of  March ; 
the  wind  remaining  at  its  height;  the  water  from  five  to 
fifteen  feet  deep  over  many  miles  and  thousands  of  acres  of 
AS  fertile  farming  land  as  can  be  found  west  of  the  Miss 
issippi  River ;  the  mercury  hovering  around  zero ;  the  waves 
rolling  high  and  filling  the  frosted  air  with  spray,  prevent 
ing  us  from  seeing  anything  going  on  about  us.  In  the  lat- 


NUGGBTS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB  171 

ter  part  of  the  day  there  would  occasionally  be  a  pause  for 
a  moment  in  the  storm,  when,  peering  through  the  windows, 
we  could  see  a  small  building  or  a  grain  stack  tossing  about 
on  the  water  before  the  wind.  Think  of  our  experiencing 
a  genuine  Dakota  blizzard,  in  midwinter,  on  that  ocean  of 
water,  and  you  may  get  a  slight  idea  of  our  situation.  It 
was  impossible  to  operate  with  a  boat  on  the  water  during 
the  storm,  and  the  suffering  cannot  be  described.  Many 
crept  away  in  attics,  while  others  with  their  families 
climbed  to  the  roofs  of  their  sod-covered  dwellings,  wrapped 
in  bed  clothes,  as  best  they  could,  where  they  awaited  the 
abating  of  the  storm  and  the  coming  of  the  life  boats. 

The  morning  of  April  1st  was  cloudy,  windy  and  cold, 
but  later  on,  the  weather  having  changed  for  the  better,  I 
concluded  to  go  out  with  the  boat  and  if  possible  find  a 
way  to  the  land.  With  an  assistant,  I  ran  the  boat  to 
Park's  place,  which  we  had  left  two  nights  previous,  and 
found  it  presenting  a  desolate  appearance;  all  live  stock 
had  disappeared,  excepting  a  bunch  of  shoats,  which  we 
discovered  had  kept  themselves  on  the  ice,  until  by  the 
rise  of  water  they  were  elevated  to  the  roof  of  a  straw- 
covered  shed,  where  they  were  nestling  quite  contented. 
We  now  ran  the  boat  out  to  the  channel  or  running  ice. 
On  this  exploration  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
some  peculiar  formations  and  interesting  scenery,  which  I 
regret  my  inability  to  properly  describe.  In  younger  days 
I  had  played  about  the  great  Niagara ;  I  had  seen  her  in  all 
her  grandeur,  both  in  summer  and  in  winter ;  I  had  sat  on 


172  NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCH 

Goat  Island  and  watched  the  beautiful  rainbows  by  day, 
and  the  lunar-bow  by  night ;  I  had  crossed  the  river  below 
the  Falls  on  the  bridge  of  ice ;  I  had  climbed  the  mountains 
of  ice  formed  by  the  ascending  spray  from  the  great  catar 
act  ;  I  had  walked  from  island  to  island  above  the  Falls  on 
ice  and  on  rocks,  gathered  boughs  from  the  tamarack  and 
cedar  trees,  when  the  icicles  hung  like  sparkling  diamonds 
in  the  clear  sunlight;  I  had  often  watched  the  beautiful 
little  steamer  "Maid  of  the  Mist,"  laden  with  the  merry 
tourists,  all  attired  in  their  golden-colored,  water-proof 
suits,  as  they  promenaded  or  danced  up  and  down  the  hur 
ricane  deck,  while  the  tiny  craft  bravely  plowed  her  way 
through  the  high  rolling  waves  and  dense  spray  and  sped 
on  with  her  pleasure  seekers  on  her  voyage  around  the  im 
mense  volume  of  falling  water,  but  on  this  occasion  I  seemed 
to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  greater  intermixture  of  foreign  and 
preternatural  scenery. 

Along  the  Jim  River,  where  it  seemed  to  take  a  southerly 
direction,  was  formed  a  solid  belt  of  ice,  braced  by  the  large 
trees  on  each  side  of  the  river.  West,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  was  gorged  and  moving  ice,  which  was  of  a 
gray  or  dark  color  and  very  craggy  and  uneven  appear 
ance.  The  entire  body  of  ice  seemed  to  me  to  have  been 
gorged  on  Thursday  night;  a  channel  had  broken  through 
the  center,  a  bank  was  formed  on  each  side,  not  more  than 
one  hundred  feet  wide,  and  not  unlike  the  work  of  a  master 
mechanic.  Propelling  the  boat  through  a  narrow  channel 
clear  from  ice,  between  the  bank  and  a  large  body  of  ice 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPSRIBNCB  173 

extending  east,  we  followed  nearly  to  the  Jim  River,  where 
we  came  to  its  head.  Here  the  water  came  from  the  ice  re 
sembling  an  immense  spring  boiling  from  underneath  giant 
rocks.  From  this  point  I  had  an  excellent  view  of  the  sub 
merged  country— several  miles  in  all  directions.  The  chan 
nel,  or  running  ice,  appeared  to  form  a  half  circle,  coming 
from  the  Missouri  River  above  us,  moved  in  a  northerly  di 
rection  crossing  the  Jim  River,  then  bearing  east ;  again  to 
the  southeast  towards  the  Missouri  River.  The  ice  in  the 
channel  seemed  to  be  three  feet  above  the  water,  and  run 
ning  with  almost  the  speed  of  a  race  horse.  As  I  looked 
upon  that  long  line  of  moving  ice,  there  came  vividly  to  my 
mind  scenes  in  the  days  of  the  Civil  War,  when  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  on  the  march  from  the  Chickahominy  to 
the  south  side  of  the  James  River. 

The  dark,  cloudy  morning  had  changed  to  sunlight.  A 
fog  seemed  to  hang  over  us,  with  a  space  of  several  feet  of 
clear,  frosty  air  between  it  and  the  water.  Snow  banks  and 
piles  of  ice  had  lodged  in  different  places  on  Wednesday 
night.  The  storm  on  Thursday,  the  dashing  water,  with 
the  cold,  freezing  weather,  had  formed  them  into  great 
shining  icebergs  that  extended  the  long  white  peaks  high  in 
the  air  above  the  water,  so  numerous  in  some  places  as  to 
require  some  skill  to  manage  a  boat  among  them.  The  dark 
clouds  had  passed  away,  and  the  bright  sun  penetrating 
the  gray  mist  presented  a  scene  similar  to  a  mirage  seen  on 
the  prairie.  The  trees  were  bowed  down  with  their  burden 
of  ice,  each  branch  and  trunk  encased  with  the  bright  crys- 

15 


174  NUGGBTS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB 

tal  were  putting  forth  white,  purple  and  golden  colors,  all 
mingled  with  the  ochre  tinged  water  and  gray  colored  ice. 
The  partly  divested  and  snow  clad  bluffs  arose  in  the  dis 
tance,  with  the  dark  blue  sky  far  in  the  background. 

Later,  while  on  this  exploring  trip,  I  met  Captain  Lav 
ender  with  his  yawl  and  crew,  who  hailed  me,  inquiring 
where  he  could  get  something  to  eat,  stating  he  had  tried  to 
get  to  us,  and  was  cast  on  a  cake  of  ice,  where  he  was  com 
pelled  to  remain  a  part  of  the  afternoon  Thursday,  in  the 
storm,  and  had  lodged  that  night  in  the  garret  of  Patrick 
Daneen's  vacant  farm  house,  without  food.  I  having  so  re 
cently  escaped  from  my  thirty-six  hour  imprisonment,  knew 
but  one  place,— the  house  of  Clark  West.  I  said  to  him: 
"Go  there.  I  think  you  can  get  food,  also  information  as 
to  who  will  be  suffering  most." 

To  me  the  appearance  of  the  captain  with  his  crew  was 
a  very  pleasant  event.  It  was  my  first  knowledge  of  a  boat, 
other  than  my  own,  being  in  the  submerged  country.  I 
was  still  searching  the  icy  country  for  an  outlet  farther  to 
the  east,  when  I  met  Captain  Lavender  returning.  He  had 
loaded  his  boat  with  people  and  was  making  towards  the 
running  ice.  Again  he  called  to  me,  saying:  "What  is  the 
trouble?"  I  replied:  "You  cannot  cross  the  current." 
The  Captain  turned  his  boat  eastward,  saying:  "I  think  I 
can  get  through  this  way,"  but  after  moving  about  some 
time  among  the  floating  blocks  of  ice,  in  search  of  an  ave 
nue  to  the  land,  he  became  weary  and  returned  for  a  resting 
place.  He  reported  the  channel  impassable,  and  I  returned 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  177 

to  Mr.  West's  for  the  night.    Lavender  and  crew  went  to 
Abe  Van  Osdel's. 

Captain  Lavender  had  been  a  sea  captain  of  some  years' 
experience.  He  was  a  quiet,  good  fellow,  and  an  ardent 
worker  in  the  cause.  Nothing  on  water  seemed  to  annoy 
him  so  much  as  vocal  music.  As  it  occurs  to  me,  my  ex 
perience  has  been  that  all  seafaring  people  are  to  a  greater 
or  less  degree  imbued  with  superstitious  beliefs,  and  the 
Captain  thought  siuging  on  the  water  a  bad  omen.  He 
seemed  sincere  in  his  belief  that  the  water  invariably  rises 
while  the  women  sing. 

April  2d  dawned  colu  and  cloudy,  with  some  wind.  Not 
knowing  whether  or  not  tne  people  in  the  outside  world 
were  awake  to  the  state  of  affairs  existing  in  that  unfortun 
ate  locality,  I  again  took  to  the  water  with  the  skiff,  anx 
iously  watching  for  an  opening  in  the  ice,  to  get  to  land  and 
state  the  danger  the  people  were  in,  that  men  with  boats 
might  hasten  to  the  rescue ;  but  each  time  I  found  the  ice 
running,  and  crossing  an  impossibility. 

After  my  return  I  went  with  a  party  to  some  out-build 
ings.  Fuel  had  been  procured  and  sent  to  the  house  in  the 
skiff.  Mr.  West  and  myself  were  seated  on  the  roof  of  a 
small  building ;  as  getting  to  the  land  seemed  an  unanswer 
able  question.  We  were  speaking  of  the  probable  results 
should  the  water  rise  higher,  when  away  to  the  north  I  dis 
covered  an  object  on  the  water,  which  I  took  to  be  a  boat, 
but  so  far  away  that  I  could  only  indistinctly  see  the  vi 
brating  of  the  oars.  To  me,  they  resembled  the  wings  of  a 


178  NUGGETS  OP  BXPBRIBNCB 

large  bird  moving  lazily  over  the  surface  of  the  water.  To 
this  I  drew  Mr.  West's  attention  and  we  watched  her  on 
ward  coming.  It  was  not  long  until  we  were  convinced  that 
another  rescuing  party  was  exploring  the  icy  region. 
Steadily  on  she  came,  directly  towards  us,  until  within  a 
few  rods  of  the  buildings,  when  I  heard  a  voice  calling  my 
name.  I  recognized  the  familiar  faces  of  Ohlman,  Karr 
and  other  gentlemen  from  Yankton,  who  composed  the 
boat's  crew,  with  that  seafaring  veteran,  Captain  Noble,  at 
the  helm.  When  landed  on  the  building,  all  gave  me  a 
kindly  greeting,  expressing  their  surprise  and  gratification 
at  finding  me  alive,  as  they  had  thought  me  lost  four  days 
previous,  but  I  was  a  little  earlier  than  the  ice,  and  reached 
the  south  side  before  its  coming. 

The  gallant  Captain  and  his  little  band  of  heroes  had 
taken  desperate  chances.  Believing  there  was  much  suffer 
ing,  they  had  risked  their  own  lives  to  know  the  fate  of 
others.  They  watched  an  opportunity  for  the  slightest 
opening,  then  like  a  flash  the  iron  hull  was  forced  into  the 
running  ice,  and  though  it  seemed  for  a  time  as  if  the 
force  of  the  floating  mass  would  gain  the  mastery,  and  the 
boat  with  its  contents  and  all  would  be  crushed  and 
carried  down  to  destruction,  yet  with  the  determined 
and  unceasing  efforts  of  the  Captain  and  his  crew,  she 
was  brought  safely  to  open  sea. 


CHAPTEK  XVI 


MY  CRAFT— CAPTAIN  NOBLE  A  STRANGER— RECEDING  OP  THB 
WATER— THE  HARD  YS— RETURN  OF  THE  WATER- 
CROWDED  APARTMENTS— WEST'S  HARBOR— RELIGIOUS 
SERVICES— MONDAY,  APRIL  FOURTH— A  HARD,  AND  A  LONG 
PULL— THE  NELSON  FAMILY— WE  TOOK  A  WALK— RETURN 
TO  THE  TROUBLED  WATERS— THE  WIDOW  AND  FAMILY— 
BLINDING  SNOW  STORM— BRAVE  HEARTS  AND  WILLING 
HANDS. 

My  little  skiff  was  now  at  a  discount.  Two  yawls  were 
exploring  the  south  side  of  the  running  ice,  engaged  in 
moving  families  from  place  to  place,  where  they  could  be 
made  most  comfortable. 

On  the  occasion  of  my  first  conversation  with  Captain 
Noble,  whom  I  had  never  met  until  on  the  waters  of  the  in 
undated  country,  the  Captain  took  the  opportunity  to  in 
quire  if  that  was  my  residence,  when  I  replied:  "I  am 
here  as  yourself,  sir,  a  rescuer,"  and  pointing  to  the  skin* 
said:  "Here  is  my  craft."  The  Captain  looked  at  me, 
then  at  the  frail  little  boat;  again  at  me,  and  remarked: 
"Well,  you  have  a  good  deal  of  nerve." 

Captain  Noble  was  a  sea  captain,  with  thirty  years'  ex 
perience  on  salt  waters.  He  was  a  resident  of  the  coast  of 


i8o  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

Maine,  and  had  arrived  in  Yankton  on  his  first  visit  to  Da 
kota  but  a  few  days  before  the  overflow.  A  total  stranger 
as  he  was,  not  one  man  in  a  thousand  would  have  exposed 
himself  as  he  did,  from  the  first  rise  of  the  flood.  It  dem 
onstrated  that  he  had  those  qualities  of  head  and  heart  that 
constitute  nature's  noblemen. 

At  the  house  of  Mr.  West,  early  Saturday  evening,  the 
water  began  to  recede  and  sank  away  rapidly,  so  that  in  a 
very  short  time  the  kitchen  floor  was  cleared ;  a  fire  started 
in  the  range,  and  the  Captains— Lavender  and  Noble,  their 
boat's  crews,  your  humble  servant  and  "man  Friday"  (who 
made  his  appearance  on  Wednesday),  were  all  present, 
seated  or  standing  around  the  stove,  warming  our  bedewed 
garments.  Many  amusing  jokes  were  exchanged  among  the 
hardys.  The  sudden  disappearance  of  the  water,  which  was 
a  surprise  and  a  mystery  to  us  all,  and  the  prospects  of  hav 
ing  to  walk  to  Yankton  the  next  morning  over  the  muddy 
river  bottoms,  were  the  subjects  of  our  conversations. 

We  were  again  surprised  when  at  nine  in  the  even 
ing  the  water  began  to  return,  and  came  up  as  rapidly  as  it 
had  gone  down  but  a  few  hours  before.  All  hands  were 
forced  to  seek  shelter  in  the  two  already  crowded  rooms 
upstairs.  The  water  continued  to  rise  until  it  was  three 
feet  deep  on  the  kitchen  floor. 

April  3rd  was  Sunday.  All  had  been  done  for  the  suf 
ferers  that  could  be  done,  until  a  way  could  be  found  to 
take  them  to  land.  The  boats  all  laid  at  their  moorings  in 
West's  Harbor  (as  it  had  come  to  be) ;  the  water  remained 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  181 

at  its  mark  until  Sunday  evening  when  it  began  to  rise 
very  fast,  which  caused  a  gcod  deal  of  uneasiness  among 
the  people.  Captain  Lavender  reported  a  wave  moving 
from  side  to  side,  as  being  the  cause  of  the  rise  and  fall  of 
the  water,  and  the  custom  on  all  large  bodies  of  water. 
Some  of  us  knew  the  channel  was  gorging  below  and  back 
ing  the  water,  or  the  gorge  was  giving  way  above.  The  ice 
was  likely  to  sweep  down  upon  us  at  any  moment.  There 
was  scarcely  standing  room  for  our  number  in  the  crowded 
apartments,  and  none  but  the  small  children  slept.  Re 
ligious  services  were  held  through  the  night.  The  landing 
at  the  head  of  the  stairs  between  the  two  rooms  was  occu 
pied  as  ia  pulpit.  I  was  selected  as  lantern  holder  to  furn 
ish  light  for  the  occasion.  Mr.  Karr  read  from  the  Great, 
Good  Book,  and  the  name  of  the  good  man  who  led  in 
prayer  has  gone  from  my  memory.  The  water  was  often 
measured  and  was  found  to  rise  one  inch  on  the  stairs  in 
five  minutes,  which  we  thought  a  rapid  ascent.  A  sharp 
lookout  was  kept  up,  and  the  night  passed  slowly  away. 

Monday,  April  4th,  the  morning  was  clear  and  calm; 
the  sun  shone  brightly,  and  all  was  still,  save  the  roaring  of 
the  waters  as  they  rolled  away  over  the  great  bottoms.  Cap 
tains  Noble  and  Lavender  pulled  away  with  the  life  boats 
once  more  to  review  the  object  of  our  future.  As  there  was 
nothing  to  be  done  until  a  passage  to  the  land  could  be 
found,  I  was  obliged  to  wait  for  an  opportunity  to  be  of 
service,  and  was  pleased  that  I  did  not  have  to  wait  long. 
Standing  on  the  roof  of  a  building,  watching  for  any  signal 


i8a  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

that  might  be  given,  I  saw  Captain  Noble's  boat  hastily  re 
turning.  In  silence  I  waited  for  any  information  he  might 
bring.  When  within  speaking  distance,  he  said  to  me: 
"Have  them  get  ready."  I  quickly  gave  the  order,  and  the 
women  and  children  were  immediately  prepared  to  take  the 
boat.  When  the  Captain  came  near  me  he  spoke  in  a  low, 
firm  voice,  saying:  "Have  them  make  haste.  We  find  the 
ice  in  the  channel  stands  still;  no  man  knows  how  long  it 
will  remain." 

The  boat  was  quickly  loaded  with  the  precious  freight 
and  hurried  to  the  crossing  on  the  ice.  Captain  Lavender 
had  crossed  the  ice  to  ply  his  boat  between  the  gorge  and 
the  brick  house  on  the  bluff.  S.  K.  Felton,  with  a  yawl  and 
crew,  was  also  at  the  gorge.  Captain  Noble  and  William 
Giggey  with  their  boats  were  on  the  south  side  behind  the 
gorge  to  carry  the  people  from  their  different  places  of  con 
finement  to  the  crossing  on  the  ice.  All  day  long  men 
worked  unceasingly,  willing  to  venture  in  the  most  danger 
ous  places  to  save  and  comfort  human  life.  Such  scenes 
are  not  experienced  in  all  generations.  The  alertness  of 
Captain  Noble,  as  he  detected  every  movement  of  the  ice 
above;  his  quiet,  unassuming  appearance;  his  graceful 
management  of  the  boat,  gave  his  crew  perfect  confidence 
in  their  helmsman.  Brave  men  were  everywhere  engaged 
in  the  noble  work,  battling  with  the  furious  water  and  ice, 
assisting  the  sufferers  in  eveiy  way  possible.  Refugees 
could  be  seen  streaming  up  the  bluffs  wherever  landed. 
Teams  of  horses  were  hurrying  about  to  carry  them  to  the 


NUGGHTS  OP  BXPERIBNCM  183 

brick  house  or  comfortable  quarters  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  where  the  doors  of  farm  houses  were  thrown 
open  to  welcome  them.  All  were  taking  an  active  part; 
there  really  seemed  to  be  a  strife  between  man  and  some 
unknown  power  for  the  bodies  of  those  unfortunate  beings. 
So  the  bustling  labors  continued  from  early  morning  until 
darkness  fell  upon  the  scene,  and  the  day  was  at  its  end. 
The  sun  had  sunk  beyond  the  western  prairies  when  our 
last  two  loads  reached  the  south  side  of  the  gorge.  Cap 
tains  Noble  and  Giggey's  boats  came  to  the  crossing  about 
the  same  time.  As  no  assistance  was  visible  on  the  opposite 
side,  Noble  advised  that  his  people  be  taken  into  Mr.  Gig 
gey's  boat  and  his  (Noble's)  boat  be  taken  across  the  gorge, 
which  was  immediately  done.  The  women  and  children 
were  then  helped  across  and  placed  in  Captain  Noble 'a 
boat.  The  other  boat  was  then  taken  over,  the  remainder 
taken  aboard,  and  with  a  hard  pull  and  a  long  pull  through 
the  darkness,  we  reached  the  brick  house  in  safety,  and 
again  touched  foot  on  land. 

The  whole  number  of  people  landed  on  this  day,  as  re 
ported,  was  one  hundred  and  eighty.  All  were  safe  who 
had  been  considered  in  imminent  danger.  We  could  rejoice 
in  the  small  number  of  lives  lost,  but  many  suffered  with 
frozen  hands  and  feet,  and  not  a  few  were  disabled  beyond 
recovery.  Three  boats'  crews,  Lavender's,  Noble's  and 
Giggey's,  abode  at  the  brick  house  over  night,  and  I  believe 
each  individual  rested,  conscious  of  having  done  his  duty 
well  to  God  and  man. 


i84  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIBNCB 

We  felt  confident  that  the  gorge  would  go  out  during  the 
night,  as  it  was  surging,  cracking  and  threatening  to  give 
way  when  we  last  crossed  with  the  boats,  but  it  remained 
until  Tuesday  afternoon,  when  we  received  another  addi 
tional  supply  of  the  unwelcome  mixture  of  water,  ice  and 
quicksand.  The  gorge  began  to  heave  and  groan,  and  fin 
ally  moved  down  over  the  bottom,  sweeping  all  in  its  way, 
buildings,  hay  and  straw  stacks,  containing  horses,  cattle 
or  hogs ;  all  went  down  with  the  watery  avalanche.  Cotton- 
wood  trees,  two  feet  in  diameter,  fell  before  the  ice  with  a* 
little  resistance  as  grass  before  the  scythe. 

I  had  concluded  to  go  to  Yankton  for  a  few  days'  much 
needed  rest,  and  was  on  the  alert  for  a  way  to  cross  the  Jim 
River.  Early  in  the  afternoon  I  walked  up  the  water  side, 
where  I  found  a  yawl  lying  that  was  bound  for  Yankton, 
managed  by  the  Sampson  (Norwegian)  crew.  I  engaged 
to  man  an  oar  as  a  reward  for  my  passage  over  the  Jim. 
We  started  the  boat,  with  Sampson  at  the  helm  (a  strong 
name,  but  a  weak  crew.)  We  were  searching  for  an  open 
ing  through,  when  I  discovered  that  another  rise  of  water 
was  coming  which  had  set  the  ice  going  and  the  whole  body 
above  us  was  in  motion.  It  was  cutting  us  off  from  land. 
In  a  very  few  minutes  we  would  be  completely  surrounded, 
our  only  alternative  being  to  pull  for  shore,  which  we  did 
without  delay,  and  succeeded  in  reaching,  but  far  from  our 
starting  point.  Quickly  hauling  the  boat  onto  a  snow  drift 
to  an  elevation  of  security,  we  ran  to  the  house  occupied 
by  the  Nelson  family,  where  the  water  had  preceded  us,  and 


NUGGHTS  OP  BXPERIBNCB  185 

was  tearing  through  the  house  over  the  first  floor,  with  the 
roaring  of  a  cataract.  A  well  filled  granary  near  by,  with 
its  contents,  passed  to  the  surface  of  the  water  and  went 
floating  down  along  the  bluff.  When  we  had  moved  the 
women  and  children  to  the  hillside,  with  bed  clothing,  and 
they  were  distributed  to  different  places  for  shelter,  it  was 
again  night,  with  no  place  to  shelter  ourselves.  At  this 
time  E.  M.  Coats  of  Yankton  appeared  on  the  scene  and 
suggested  that  I  take  a  walk  with  him  ,three  miles,  to  a 
farmer  friend  of  his,  which  I  did.  The  walking  was  not 
good;  the  snow  drifts  were  not  sufficiently  solid  to  carry 
the  weight  of  a  man.  Some  of  the  way  we  were  tramping 
in  halfway  to  our  knees,  and  occasionally  would  break 
through  where  it  was  much  deeper.  We  would  have  to  stop 
and  pull  ourselves  out,  then  commence  new  again.  Oh !  how 
tired  I  was.  but  we  reached  the  house,  had  some  supper  and 
a  good  bed. 

The  following  morning  I  arose,  fully  determined  if  possi 
ble,  to  reach  Yankton  before  the  setting  of  another  sun. 
After  eating  breakfast  we  walked  back  to  the  troubled  waters 
where  I  met  Ed  Iverson,  who  was  just  returning  from  the 
vicinity  of  Gayville.  He  reported  the  people  there  penned 
up  in  the  attics  of  buildings  without  food  or  means  of  es 
cape.  He  also  expressed  a  desire  to  go  to  Yankton  for  a 
boat  and  provisions  for  them.  I  suggested  we  take  the  boat 
used  by  the  Sampson  crew,  as  it  was  then  idle.  This  was  a 
favored  idea,  and  we  soon  had  help  and  were  pulling  the 
boat  across  the  Jim  River  bottoms. 

16 


186  NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB 

We  reached  Hanson's  Landing  without  obstruction, 
where  we  met  several  Yankton  citizens,  who  greeted  us  joy 
fully.  Among  them  was  Postmaster  Howard,  who  said  we 
were  all  heroes.  After  reaching  Yankton,  the  circum 
stances  with  our  desires  were  made  known  to  the  County 
Commissioners.  A  team  was  procured,  loaded  with  provis 
ions;  a  boat's  crew  selected,  and  we  again  returned  to  the 
inundated  country,  at  Hanson's  Landing.  Transferring 
the  eatables  from  wagon  to  boat,  we  pulled  away  over  the 
high  rolling  waves  against  a  strong  northwest  wind,  and 
touching  at  the  brick  house,  long  enough  only  to  leave  the 
greater  portion  of  our  provisions,  we  were  off  for  the  work 
laid  out  for  us. 

It  was  far  in  the  night  when  we  reached  a  log  house 
occupied  by  a  widow  with  her  children— seven  in  number. 
There  was  water  to  the  depth  of  two  feet  on  the  floor  and  no 
fire  in  the  house.  The  widow  and  her  children  were  on  the 
upper  floor,  remaining  in  bed  to  avoid  the  cold  weather. 
After  raising  the  stove  above  the  water  and  starting  a  fire, 
Will  Goodwin  and  myself  cooked  supper  for  the  family  and 
crew. 

The  morning  of  the  7th  came,  cold,  with  rain  and  hail 
falling.  After  breakfasting,  with  the  widow  and  her  family 
in  the  boat,  we  commenced  our  work  for  the  day.  We  ran 
over  to  Peter  Johnson's  to  leave  provisions,  where  several 
families  had  congregated.  Here  the  boat  was  loaded  with 
women  and  children,  and  we  began  our  return  voyage.  At 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE,  187 

this  time  the  storm  settled  down  to  a  very  wet  snow,  so  com 
pletely  covering  the  people  and  freezing  to  their  garments 
as  to  prevent  our  distinguishing  one  from  the  other.  So 
dense  was  the  storm  that  it  compelled  us  to  propel  the  boat 
near  the  bluff,  as  a  guide,  which  made  our  labors  more  fa 
tiguing  and  retarded  our  progress  to  some  degree,  as  we 
had  to  make  the  curves  of  the  bank,  as  well  as  stem  a  strong 
current. 

As  I  write  these  words,  I  fancy  I  see  before  me  (as  I 
looked  upon  them  then)  that  boat,  crowded  with  silent,  suf 
fering  mothers  and  little  ones,  and  the  wearied  counten 
ances  of  those  of  brave  hearts,  with  willing  hands,  as  they 
tugged  at  the  oars,  while  we  moved  slowly  through  the  storm, 
watching  for  the  brick  house  on  the  bluff,  an  object  we  did 
not  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  until  late  in  the  afternoon. 
After  delivering  our  precious  load  safe  at  the  brick  house, 
we  cooked  and  ate  dinner.  As  I  was  suffering  with  cold,  I 
quietly  walked  away  from  the  exciting  scenes  to  a  farm 
house,  where  I  was  kindly  treated  and  cared  for  until  I 
could  obtain  passage  to  the  west  side  of  the  Jim. 

The  next  morning,  while  on  my  way  to  the  water,  I 
called  for  a  few  minutes  at  the  brick  house,  where  I  met 
W.  B.  Valentine,  a  Yankton  County  Commissioner,  who 
was  looking  after  the  comforts  of  the  unfortunates  and 
making  preparations  to  send  them  to  Yankton,  where  they 
could  be  more  comfortably  cared  for. 

'While  at  the  brick  house,  I  learned  of  a  yawl  lying  some 
distance  west  that  would  cross  to  the  west  side  sometime 


i88  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

during  the  day.  Hastening  my  steps  in  search  of  her,  I  ar 
rived  in  good  time,  secured  passage  to  Hanson's  Landing, 
and  reached  Yankton  the  evening  of  April  8th,  thus  com 
pleting  my 

"Ten  Days'  Experience  in  the  Flood." 


paper  of  S,  1k.  tfelton 


CHAPTEK  XVII 


NECESSITY  FOE  MORE  BOATS  — THE  IRON  LIFE  BOAT  — OUR  AP 
PEARANCE  HAILED  WITH  JOY— CRASHING  ICE  AND  ROAR 
ING  WATERS— HEMMED  IN  BY  THE  GORGE— HELPING 
ALONG  THE  OLD  AND  ENCOURAGING  ALL— THE  STURDY 
HEARTS  AND  WILLING  ONES. 

By  request  of  Dr.  N.  Armstrong,  who  publishes  the 
foregoing,  I  add  a  brief  account  of  my  experience  of  April 
1st  to  12th,  in  the  effort  to  relieve  the  people  in  the  sub 
merged  regions. 

April  1st,  about  noon,  word  was  received  by  the  County 
Commissioners  of  urgent  necessity  of  more  boats,  to  assist 
in  rescuing  the  people.  Promptly  at  the  call  the  boats  were 
engaged  and  crews  secured  to  man  them  made  up  from  the 
willing  hearts,  ready  to  do  and  dare  in  aid  of  their  fellow 
townsmen.  Mr.  Monroe  had  just  reached  home  from  a  two 
days'  imprisonment  in  the  gorge  between  the  Missouri  and 
James  Rivers.  In  company  with  others  I  called  on  him 
and  found  him  suffering  with  frozen  feet  in  consequence 
of  exposure  in  his  noble  efforts  to  relieve  the  family  of  Mr. 
Richards  and  some  thirty  others,  who,  like  himself,  had 
been  confined  upon  the  roof  of  a  "dug  out"  nearly  the  en- 


NUGGBTS  OP  HXPHRIHNCB 

tire  time  of  two  days  and  nights.  After  listening  to  Mr. 
M.'s  account— which  space  does  not  allow  me  to  record  in 
full— we  decided  that  our  first  duty  was  to  relieve  these 
people.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  April  the  2d,  we 
launched  our  iron  life  boat,  and  turned  down  the  wild  stream 
of  the  Missouri,  among  seething  water,  grinding  ice  and 
blinding  snow— about  five  miles  below  Yankton  and  be 
tween  the  two  rivers.  On  rounding  the  point  of  a  large 
gorge  of  ice  we  suddenly  came  on  a  part  of  the  party  we 
were  in  search  of,  struggling  in  two  small  skiffs  to  get  out 
from  among  the  gorge  and  running  ice.  Our  appear 
ance  was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  almost  perishing  women 
and  children— though  braver  hearts  than  theirs  never  came 
within  the  writer's  notice.  Not  a  murmur  of  complaint 
from  old  or  young.  Transferring  fourteen  from  the  boats 
and  ice  to  our  yawl,  we  turned  towards  Yankton,  reaching 
the  immense  gorge  opposite  the  steamboat  landing  in  Yank- 
ton  about  noon,  where  willing  hands  assisted  us  in  trans 
ferring  them  to  land  and  the  kind  care  of  the  citizens. 

I  would  not  forget  to  mention  here,  that  on  our  way  up 
with  these  people,  we  met  Captain  Noble  and  crew,  pulling 
for  the  neighborhood  of  Clark  West's,  their  arrival  there, 
and  subsequent  effective  service  having  been  stated  by 
Dr.  A. 

Again  reaching  the  vicinity  of  the  house  of  Mr.  Rich 
ards  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  found  nearly  one- 
half  mile  of  gorged  ice  between  us  and  those  we  were  bound 


NUGGHTS  OP  HXPHRlHNCn  193 

to  release.  Over  this  on  foot  we  made  our  way  to  the  house, 
where  we  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Semple— an  aged  couple 
nearly  ninety  years  old— their  son,  B.  M.  Semple,  Mr.  Rich 
ards,  Mr.  English  and  several  others.  Taking  Mr.  R.  's  sled 
we  placed  the  aged  couple  together  with  a  Mrs.  McArthur, 
upon  the  sled,  strung  out  a  long  rope,  while  others  held  up 
our  impromptu  ice  boat,  and  succeeded  in  again  reaching 
our  boats  in  safety,  less  numerous  involuntary  baths,  which 
at  this  season  of  the  year  are  not  remarkable  for  their  pleas 
ant  effects.  Loading  in  our  precious  freight  we  again 
turned  towards  Yankton,  reaching  land  again  at  dark.  The 
experience  of  these  unfortunate  people  would  fill  a  volume, 
spending  the  cold  nights  in  the  out-door  air,  surrounded  by 
crashing  ice  and  roaring  water,  their  only  hope  of  safety 
being  less  than  thirty  feet  square  of  solid  earth,  which 
raised  itself  as  an  "  oasis "  above  the  surrounding  waters. 

Sunday,  April  3rd,  we  left  Yankton  again  for  the  scene 
of  danger,  in  a  severe  cold  northwest  gale,  with  ice  running 
wild.  We  became  hemmed  in,  and  were  forced  to  seek  ref 
uge  in  the  lea  of  some  timber,  on  the  roof  of  a  log  stable, 
with  water  a  little  over  the  eaves.  Here  we  remained  until 
4  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  the  ice  opening  to  the  north,  we  made 
a  dash  for  open  water,  and  again  succeeded  in  reaching  Mr. 
Richard's  house  at  dark.  After  a  night  similar  to  those 
described  by  Dr.  A.,  daylight  found  us  hemmed  in  by  the 
gorge,  the  nearest  open  water  was  distant  one  and  one-half 
miles,  with  no  other  alternative  but  to  haul  our  boat  by 


194  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

hand  over  the  ice,  so  at  it  we  went,  and  in  two  hours'  time 
reached  open  water  and  soon  after  arrived  at  the  house  of 
Louis  Volin  on  the  bluff,  where  we  found  that  Captain  Lav 
ender  had  just  landed  his  first  boat  load  of  sufferers  on 
terra  firma.  Hastening  to  the  gorge  we  were  just  in  time  to 
meet  Captain  Noble  and  Wm.  Giggey,  with  each  a  yawl 
load,  who  were  immediately  helped  across  the  gorge  to  our 
boat.  At  this  place  we  met  Dr.  Armstrong  with  his  arms 
full  of  little  ones,  helping  along  the  old,  encouraging  all  to 
keep  up  good  heart.  Remaining  at  this  point  only  as  long 
as  our  services  were  needed,  we  pulled  for  the  vicinity  of 
John  Thompson 's,  where  we  found  a  large  number  of  fami 
lies  in  the  attics  of  their  houses,  with  water  and  ice  nearly 
on  a  level  with  their  feet.  One  family  being  in  a  house 
without  an  attic  floor,  wrere  huddled  together  on  a  bed,  which 
was  hoisted  as  high  as  possible  on  boxes  and  chairs,  near  a 
hole  which  they  had  cut  through  the  roof.  We  found  here 
the  mother  and  four  little  ones,  while  the  father  sat  on  the 
roof,  apparently  indifferent,  whether  assistance  came  or 
not.  From  this  vicinity  we  landed  eight  families,  in  all 
forty-two  persons.  We  continued  in  this  work  for  ten 
days,  each  day  being  but  a  repetition  of  former  scenes,  in 
cidents  and  labors,  until  all  were  saved  who  could  be 
reached,  though  they  were  so  hemmed  in  by  ice  that  to 
reach  them  by  boat  or  on  foot  over  the  ice  was  utterly  im 
possible.  While  the  destruction  of  live  stock  was  appalling, 
we  can  rejoice  that  there  was  but  little  loss  of  life,  though 
for  many  days  these  people  suffered  all  but  death. 


NUGGHTS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  195 

To  the  sturdy  hearts  and  willing  ones,  who  composed 
the  crews  of  the  different  boats  engaged  in  this  work,  no 
less  than  to  those  who  had  the  honor  to  be  at  the  helm,  is 
due  the  praise  and  thanks  of  a  grateful  people.  On  them 
fell  the  burden  of  labor,  and  an  equal  share  of  danger,  and 
to  them  should  be  rendered  a  full  share  of  credit.  I  sub 
join  a  list  of  those  who  composed  the  crew  of  the  yawl  of 
which  I  had  the  honor  of  being  in  charge :  J.  C.  Fitzpatrick, 
Anton  Brockman,  Samuel  Martin,  Thomas  Adams,  Charles 
Smith,  Robert  Logan,  crew. 

Respectfully,  S.  K.  FBI/TON. 


of  Miob  Wheels 


or  1bow  2>afcota  Belle 
^rottefc  Bwas  witb  tbe  Staftea 


17 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


MITCHELL  AN  ASPIRING  TOWN— THE  RACE  TRACK— THE  FAV 
ORITE  GRAY  MARE— EXCITEMENT  RUNNING  HIGH— THE 
YOUNG  MARE  THAT  WAS  RAISED  IN  DAKOTA— FAINT 
HOPES— THE  THIRD  DAY  OF  JULY— THE  IMMENSE  CROWD 
OF  PEOPLE— A  NEWLY  AROUSED  INTELLIGENCE— A  DESPER 
ATE  TRIO— PLENTY  OF  ICE  THE  BALANCE  OF  THE  SEASON. 

In  the  spring  of  1882,  the  town  of  Mitchell,  in  Dakota, 
was  building  up  rapidly ;  money  was  circulating  briskly  in 
land  deals,  and  a  generous  spirit  prevailed  in  the  matter 
of  securing  attractions  for  the  aspiring  town,  especially 
among  the  livelier  residents.  A  gathering  of  men  from 
many  states,  mostly  eastern,  and  largely  newcomers,  deter 
mined  that  Mitchell  should  own  a  race  track,  for  who  could 
predict  what  fame  might  not  reflect  upon  the  new  town, 
from  the  brilliant  record  of  some  trotter,  as  yet  a  foal,  fling 
ing  its  heels  in  distant  pastures,  all  unconscious  of  its  des 
tiny. 

A  trotting  association  was  formed;  land  purchased  for 
a  fair  ground,  and  a  half-mile  race  track  was  built.  A 
promising  season  was  looming  up,  and  the  keenest  interest 
was  felt.  Several  horses  possessing  evident  qualities  for 
speed  were  bought  and  brought  in,  and  when  the  work  on 


200  NUGGHTS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

the  ground  was  well  advanced,  a  two  days'  racing  meeting 
was  advertised  to  be  held  on  July  third  and  fourth. 

There  was  hardly  a  man  in  Mitchell,  young  or  old,  who 
had  not  the  name  of  some  hopeful  equine  on  his  lips,  and 
while  some  were  loud,  others  assumed  an  air  of  mystery  or 
wisdom,  and  the  town  was  in  a  flutter  of  expectancy.  Trot 
ters  even  trotted  through  the  boys'  dreams,  and  many  a 
hotly  contested  mile  was  driven  over  the  track  before  the 
meeting.  Prospects  were  promising  for  a  large  number  of 
entries,  and  all  seemed  delighted  with  the  new  enterprise. 
Not  a  man  concerned  but  was  confident  of  winning  a  bundle 
on  the  days  of  the  meeting,  and  I  doubt  if  there  was  ever  a 
more  enjoyable  time  anticipated  at  Coney  Island  or  Chi 
cago. 

Mr.  J.  K.  Smith,  the  secretary  of  the  Trotting  Associa 
tion,  was  the  owner  of  a  gray  mare  that  had  been  in  train 
ing  since  very  early  in  the  spring,  and  indeed  many  years 
before.  She  was  under  the  guiding  hand  of  one  Wright, 
who  had  come  out  from  Iowa,  professing  to  be  the  best 
skilled  trainer  and  driver  in  all  the  northwest.  This  mare 
was  a  great  favorite  at  Mitchell;  she  had  been  shipped 
from  the  East  the  previous  year,  and  it  was  universally  be 
lieved  that  no  horse  in  the  country  could  defeat  her  in  a 
race,  in  fact,  it  seemed  as  if  she  was  looked  upon  as  an  in 
vincible.  Mr.  Smith  had  spoken  with  a  great  deal  of  confi 
dence  in  regard  to  the  ability  of  his  mare,  and  intimated  his 
apprehensions  that  others  would  not  enter  against  her,  and 
he  would  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of  starting  her 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  201 

alone  in  exhibition  heats.  Excitement  was  running  high. 
My  semi-inaction  seemed  more  than  I  could  endure;  my 
business  was  of  too  tame  a  nature  altogether.  I  had  no 
horse,  and  each  owner  of  a  racer  was  sure  his  horse  could 
beat  the  other  man's  horse,  and  all  were  confident  in  their 
minds  that  they  could  name  the  winner  in  any  race  at  the 
meeting.  I  knew  of  a  pretty  good  mare,  that  had  been 
raised  in  Dakota.  She  was  a  large,  beautiful,  dapple  gray ; 
sixteen  hands  high,  kind  and  gentle,  and  as  yet  none  of  my 
Mitchell  friends  had  the  pleasure  of  an  acquaintance  with 
her.  As  I  became  absorbed  in  the  prospects  of  the  coming 
sports,  I  wrote  the  owner  of  the  mare,  informing  him  of  the 
race  meeting,  and  suggested  to  him  to  bring  his  mare — 
Dakota  Belle— to  Mitchell,  and  if  he  so  desired,  I  would 
drive  her  in  the  race.  The  return  mail  brought  me  a  letter 
from  the  owner,  stating  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to 
leave  home,  but  the  Belle  was  standing  in  the  barn,  and  if 
I  wanted  her,  I  could  come  and  get  her.  The  time  was 
short  to  think  of  starting  in  a  race  of  heats,  with  a  horse 
that  had  not  been  in  exercise,  for  it  was  already  the  last 
week  in  June.  Nevertheless,  I  took  the  first  train  for  the 
home  of  the  owner  of  the  mare.  I  did  not  say  good-by  to 
anyone,  and  but  few  knew  of  my  departure.  Arriving  at  my 
destination  the  night  of  June  26th,  I  found  the  mare  very 
fat,  and  started  the  next  day  to  drive  her  to  Mitchell,  a  dis 
tance  of  about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles.  The  mare  hav 
ing  been  stabled  in  company  with  other  horses,  was  very 
fretful  when  alone  on  the  prairie.  She  left  her  feed  the 


202  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

first  day  out  and  would  eat  nothing  but  hay  and  grass. 
With  the  mare  and  faint  hopes,  I  arrived  at  Mitchell  the 
night  of  Friday,  June  30th. 

I  had  intended  starting  the  Belle  in  the  three  minute 
class  against  Mr.  Smith's  mare,  which  would  be  called  on 
Monday,  July  3rd,  but  the  time  was  so  short  and  she  waa 
not  eating  and  appeared  so  tired,  that  I  gave  up  the  idea  of 
starting  her  at  the  meeting.  But  many  people  urged  that 
the  mare  should  be  entered  for  the  race.  The  officers  of  the 
association  also  came  to  see  me,  saying  it  was  their  first 
meeting  and  they  were  anxious  to  make  a  success.  The 
races,  they  assured  me,  should  be  managed  strictly  in  ac 
cordance  with  the  rules  of  the  National  Trotting  Associa 
tion,  and  any  man  not  obeying  the  rules  would  be  punished 
accordingly.  I  might  start  the  mare  with  the  understand 
ing  that  I  would  withdraw  her  from  the  race  after  the 
first  heat  if  likely  to  receive  injury.  In  fine,  they  won  my 
consent. 

The  afternoon  of  the  third  day  of  July  came,  and  we 
went  out  to  trot  the  three  minutes '  race.  There  was  a  very 
large  gathering  of  people  on  the  ground,  and  all  were  ex 
pecting  to  see  an  interesting  race,  but  no  one  thought  of  its 
terminating  as  they  saw  it.  I  suppose  ninety  per  cent,  of 
all  the  people  who  were  present  expected  to  see  the  favorite 
the  winner,  and  I  confess  I  had  but  little  hope  of  winning 
with  the  Belle  myself. 

After  arriving  on  the  ground,  I  found  a  great  prejudice 
existing  towards  Dakota  Belle.     This  was  caused  by  er- 


NUGGHTS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH  203 

roneous  reports  which  had  been  circulated  for  the  purpose 
of  gaining  sympathy  in  favor  of  Mitchell's  favorite.  Some 
one  had  reported  that  the  Belle  was  an  old  trotter,  rung  in 
to  unjustly  deprive  the  home  horses  of  their  rights.  The 
driver  of  the  favorite,  who  was  adversely  disposed,  claimed 
to  have  seen  her  trot  races  in  Iowa,  and  that  she  had  a  fast 
record.  A  protest  was  entered  against  Dakota  Belle,  and  I 
was  called  to  the  Judge 's  stand  to  answer  the  same.  When 
I  stated  the  name  and  place  of  residence  of  the  owner  of 
the  mare,  I  declared  that  if  the  Belle  was  not  eligible  to  the 
class  I  did  not  want  to  start  her,  but  I  believed  she  was,  as 
Mr.  Grange,  her  owner,  had  told  me  she  had  no  race  record. 
After  considerable  parley  among  a  great  many,  she  was 
permitted  to  start  under  the  protest. 

Considering  the  many  rumors  concerning  the  Belle,  she 
being  entirely  strange,  and  I  having  been  in  the  place  but 
a  short  time,  we  had  but  few  friends  when  starting  in  the 
race. 

All  drivers  were  called  to  the  Judge's  stand  to  receive 
position.  Seven  horses  answered  the  bell,  and  fortune  de 
creed  that  Dakota  Belle  drew  seventh  position,  which  placed 
her  in  the  rear  rank  and  on  the  outside.  We  were  sent  up 
the  stretch  to  corne  for  the  word,  and  to  all  appearance  I 
had  no  trotter.  The  Belle  was  acting  in  an  exceedingly 
dull  manner  and  I  was  not  pleased  with  her.  She  seemed 
to  have  no  conception  of  the  requirements  of  a  race  horse, 
and  every  horse  in  the  race  would  go  to  the  wire  two  or 
three  lengths  ahead  of  her.  The  third  time  down  we  were 


204  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

sent  away  for  the  heat,  with  the  Belle  far  in  the  rear,  and 
to  make  the  matter  more  embarrassing,  she  made  a  break  at 
the  first  turn,  and  no  sooner  was  she  to  her  gait  than  she 
broke  again,  and  I  was  loudly  hooted  at  by  the  immense 
crowd  of  people.  I  have  no  doubt  the  chances  for  Dakota 
Belle's  success  had  a  disastrous  appearance,  for  when  I 
turned  her  into  the  back  stretch,  the  other  horses  were  all 
well  away  towards  the  quarter  pole.  The  local  favorite,  the 
gray  mare,  which,  for  the  want  of  a  better  name  I  shall  call 
the  Skipper,  was  leading  the  party,  and  I  will  say  this 
much  in  her  favor,  that  a  more  determined  Skipper  I  never 
saw  in  a  trotting  race. 

I  was  lenient  and  patient  with  the  Belle,  kindly  dis 
cussing  the  matter  with  her,  fervently  hoping  she  would 
soon  wake  up  to  the  situation.  After  passing  the  quarter 
pole  she  seemed  to  move  with  more  elasticity,  and  when 
again  turning  into  the  back  stretch,  she  pointed  her  ears 
forward  and  seemed  more  animated,  which  gave  me  some 
encouragement,  as  I  regarded  this  as  corroborative  evi 
dence  of  her  racing  qualities,  and  that  I  was  not  to  be  dis 
appointed  in  her.  A  newly  aroused  intelligence  seemed  to 
flash  upon  her,  as  if  receiving  from  me,  at  least,  an  under 
standing  of  her  responsiblities.  I  now  began  to  help  her 
along,  and  nobly  she  responded  to  every  call.  As  she 
flew,  to  close  up  the  gap,  she  passed  one  horse  after  an 
other,  as  if  to  say:  "I  am  a  contestant  in  this  affair;  if 
you  beat  me,  you  will  race  for  it."  While  rounding  the 
turn  she  shook  off  four  of  her  competitors;  swinging  into 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIBNCH 


the  home  stretch,  she  made  a  strong  effort  to  close  on  the 
leaders,  and  it  was  good  to  hear  the  comments,  as  she  came 
in  a  close  third  at  the  finish.  The  high  rate  of  speed 
shown  by  Dakota  Belle  in  this  last  half  mile  won  golden 
opinions,  even  from  some  of  the  sports,  hut  while  some  were 
willing  to  place  their  money  on  my  side,  the  heat  was 
awarded  to  the  Skipper,  and  many  stood  by  the  favorite 
gray. 

While  refreshing  the  Belle  in  the  rear  of  the  Judge's 
stand,  I  could  hear  above  the  din  of  confusion  furious  pro 
fanity,  and  the  bold  shouts—  anything  to  beat  the  big  mare. 
They  declared  she  should  be  permitted  to  gain  no  position 
in  the  contest,  and  Wright  rushed  about  swearing  like  a 
pirate,  but  their  abusive  language  only  drove  me  to  a  more 
desperate  determination.  I  was  carefully  watching  and 
tending  the  big  gray  mare,  and  did  not  leave  her  between 
the  heats.  To  my  satisfaction,  she  was  sweating  freely 
and  breathed  out  nicely.  I  felt  confident  now  that  she 
would  endure  the  fatigue,  and  I  had  concluded  we  were 
there  to  remain  to  the  end  of  the  conflict.  When  we  were 
called  for  the  second  heat,  I  went  out  fully  determined  to 
win. 

This  start  was  almost  a  repetition  of  the  first.  The 
Belle  did  not  leave  her  gait,  but  every  horse  in  the  race 
was  around  the  turn  ahead  of  her.  Once  in  the  back 
stretch,  however,  she  got  to  work,  and  was  soon  in  the 
midst  of  the  gang,  heroically  struggling  for  the  front.  I 
was  now  reminded  of  running  a  blockade  of  torpedoes. 


206  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH 

As  I  moved  forward,  the  hindmost  horse  was  pulled  in 
front  of  the  Belle,  then  another  and  so  on  through  as  I 
succeeded  them.  At  times  the  Belle  would  be  on  the  turf 
on  one  side,  and  again  on  the  grass  on  the  other  side,  so 
the  battle  raged;  though  every  imaginable  scheme  was 
practiced  to  assist  their  favorite  to  win,  the  five  were  left 
behind,  and  the  favorite  attacked  on  the  home  stretch, 
when  the  battle  was  renewed,  and  a  hot  contest  witnessed 
the  last  half  mile.  The  Skipper  being  hard  pressed,  ran 
and  trotted  in  a  wild  mingling  of  steps.  When  turning  into 
the  home  stretch,  the  Belle  made  a  rush  for  the  finish,  trot 
ting  nicely,  while  the  Skipper  went  the  entire  distance  to 
the  wire  on  a  run. 

After  a  long  consultation  among  the  judges,  the  de 
cision  was  announced  in  favor  of  Dakota  Belle.  This 
caused  a  good  deal  of  loud  dissatisfaction  among  the  back 
ers  of  the  favorite.  Now  the  Belle  had  one  heat,  the  pros 
pects  for  the  former  winning  the  race  were  less  bright.  In 
jest,  I  said  to  the  driver  of  the  favorite:  " Can't  you  make 
your  mare  trot  a  little?"  With  this  the  old  man  grew 
furious,  and  performed  antics  about  over  the  prairie  as 
if  simulating  the  actions  of  a  wild  buffalo  in  the  coils  of  a 
cowboy's  lasso. 

We  were  run  up  for  the  third  heat,  and  with  it  came 
the  great  effort,  (as  the  boys  have  it.)  Any  old  kind  of 
complaints  were  being  entered  against  Dakota  Belle  and 
her  driver,  and  patrol  judges  were  posted  to  protect  the 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  209 

favorite  from  foul.  The  word  was  given  us,  the  first  time 
to  the  wire,  with  the  Belle  bringing  up  the  rear  as  usual, 
but  we  caught  the  Skipper  at  the  quarter  pole,  and  could 
have  trotted  past  her  any  part  of  the  mile  after,  but  each 
time  I  moved  up,  Wright  would  set  his  mare  to  running 
and  cross  the  track  in  front  of  us.  When  going  up  the 
back  stretch  the  second  half  mile,  the  Skipper  putting  in 
her  jumps  in  great  shape,  I  worked  the  Belle  to  her  ut 
most,  keeping  as  little  space  between  the  horses  as  pos 
sible,  and  when  the  Skipper  was  pulled  to  her  gait  (or 
rather  to  the  gait  she  should  have  gone)  the  Belle  brushed 
up,  and  showed  her  nose  in  front.  My  wheel  was  a  little 
in  advance  of  Wright's;  I  looked  over  and  quietly  re 
marked:  "I  have  got  you,  old  man."  The  old  man's  re 
ply  was  a  curse,  with  a  demand  for  more  room,  and  when 
his  mare  left  her  trot,  she  swerved  toward  the  Belle;  the 
sulkies  collided,  five  spokes  flew  from  Wright's  wheel  and 
one  from  mine.  The  Belle  trotted  steadily  on,  while  the 
Skipper  running  to  equal  a  short  dash  bang-tail,  carried 
me  to  the  extreme  outside  of  the  turn.  Wright  then  pulled 
for  the  pole;  when  turning  to  the  stretch,  the  Belle  was 
again,  pressing  her  hard,  when  she  made  another  run, 
carrying  me  to  the  outside  of  the  track.  At  this  time  Toby 
came  along  with  State-line,  hugging  the  inside,  and  had 
gained  a  position  ahead  of  us.  This  was  a  great  surprise 
to  Wright,  and  caused  him  to  leave  me  and  go  after  State- 
line.  Down  the  stretch  we  went  for  the  finish,  a  desperate 

18 


3io  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

trio;  State-line  to  the  pole,  the  Belle  on  the  outside; 
Wright's  cap  had  slipped  from  his  head,  and  with  the 
string  around  his  neck  was  dangling  down  his  back;  his 
gray  locks  were  streaming  in  the  breeze,  and  the  Skipper 
was  putting  in  her  kangaroo  leaps  down  the  center,  while 
cheer  after  cheer  went  up  from  the  mouths  of  thousands 
of  enthusiastic  spectators. 

I  never  knew  which  of  the  three  outstretched  noses 
went  under  the  wire  first.  The  judges  proclaimed  a  dead 
heat,  which  was  far  from  being  satisfactory  to  the  friends 
of  the  favorite  gray,  and  for  some  mysterious  reason  she 
did  not  start  in  the  race  again. 

Three  other  horses  were  also  withdrawn,  leaving  Da 
kota  Belle,  State-line  and  Lady  San  ford  to  finish  the  race. 
The  Belle  won  the  fourth  and  fifth  heats,  and  the  race 
was  hers,  and  the  Belle  was  now  a  favorite  at  Mitchell, 
where  I  started  her  again,  as  in  other  places,  always 
with  success;  but  the  first  race  at  Mitchell,  as  regards  both 
drivers  and  spectators,  was,  I  think,  the  most  sensational 
contest  I  have  ever  taken  part  in.  The  anxiety  of  each 
individual  seemed  strained  to  its  greatest  capacity,  while 
the  immense  gathering  jostled  turbulently,  and  were  ap 
parently  prepared  for  open  hostilities  at  a  single  tap  of 
the  bell. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  hard-won  victory,  and  the 
only  pleasure  that  my  opponents  seemed  to  enjoy  was  hold 
ing  my  money  under  protest  twenty-one  days,  which  they 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  211 

claimed  to  be  the  rule.  No  reason  could  be  shown  why 
Dakota  Belle  should  not  have  started  in  the  race,  and 
after  the  expiration  of  the  three  weeks,  with  a  good  deal  of 
reluctance,  the  protest  was  withdrawn  and  the  money  was 
paid  over  to  me,  and  I  had  plenty  of  ice  the  balance  of  the 
season. 


E  tfeast  with  the  Kawfce^es 


CHAPTER  XIX 


UNLIKE  UNCLE  ISAAC  GROSSMAN— THE  HAWKEYE  CLUB  — SO 
SAYS  THE  DOCTOR— BEACH  AND  GOULD  —  NATURAL  SCEN 
ERY—MORE  EXPERIENCE  THAN  CAPITAL— ALL  SMILES 
AND  ATTENTION— INVITED  FOR  AN  OUTING— A  TAM-O- 
SHANTER  RIDE— THE  OLD  MARE*S  BLOOD  WAS  ROILED— 
JACK'S  OBLIGATED  DUTY. 

Some  years  ago,  in  a  busy  town  far  down  the  Colum 
bia  River,  dwelt  many  good  people,  who,  unlike  "Cross 
Isaac"  of  Uncleman's  Cross-Corners  fame,  long  after  Hor 
ace  Greeley  gave  his  celebrated  advice,  "Go  West,  young 
man,  and  grow  up  with  the  country,"  remained  East,  but 
after  years  advanced  and  the  country  had  grown,  took  the 
advice  and  the  trail  West. 

Now,  being  far  from  their  native  State,  and  lest  many 
things  should  be  forgotten,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
form  an  association  under  the  name  of  the  Hawkeye  Club; 
and  a  spacious  room  was  procured  where  meetings  could 
be  held,  for  the  purpose  of  visits,  talks  and  debates,  to 
keep  in  mind  old  friends,  the  land  of  birth,  and  "auld 
lang  syne." 

One  evening,  late  in  Spring  time,  when  the  thermome 
ter  was  away  above  zero,  and  there  was  no  snow  or  frost 


216  NUGGHTS  OP  HXPHRIHNCH 

on  the  ground,  so  that  it  was  not  necessary  that  the  Host 
should  remain  indoors,  sit  in  a  big  arm  chair  in  the  cor 
ner,  smoke  a  corn  cob  pipe,  talk  race  horse,  drink  hot 
whiskey  toddies  and  hug  a  redhot  stove  to  avoid  congela 
tion,  the  Hawkeye  Club  assembled  in  regular  meeting, 
which,  by  reason  of  the  liberal  attendance  on  that  par 
ticular  date,  reverted  into  a  very  amusing  evening's  en 
tertainment,  consisting  of  reading,  singing,  narrative,  per 
sonation  and  oratory.  A  corps  of  ability  being  selected 
for  the  evening,  and  all  required  to  participate, 

So  Says  the  Doctor. 
Gentlemen : 

I  assure  you  that  I  regard  this  a  most  gratifying  meet 
ing,  and  that  I  am  much  pleased  to  be  with  you  upon  this 
joyous  occasion.  It  reminds  me  of  many  agreeable  occur 
rences,  and  of  some  occurrences  that  were  not  so  very 
agreeable,  all  of  which  find  place  in  the  merry-go-round 
of  life. 

As  we  are  seated  here  before  this  smiling,  intelli 
gent,  and  apparently  happy  gathering,  I  am  very  natur 
ally  reminded  of  the  fact,  that  I  was  once  connected  with 
the  merry  making  minstrelsy,  and,  as  I  am  expected  in 
some  way  to  contribute  to  the  entertainment  of  our  little 
party,  I  will  relate  some  of  my  experiences,  which,  I  ven 
ture  to  say,  did  not  differ  widely  from  those  of  many 
others  who  have  participated  in  similar  undertakings. 

Having  had,  in  my  earlier  years,  a  fondness  for  negro 
minstrelsy,  and  being  desirous  in  later  years  of  making 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  217 

that  a  profession,  I  some  years  after  the  Rebellion,  adver 
tised  for,  procured,  organized,  drilled  and  prepared  a 
troupe  of  excellent  amateur  talent,  for  the  purpose  of  per 
manent  investment,  and  to  travel  in  whatever  part  of  the 
country  might  prove  most  fruitful,  I  having  the  honor  of 
being  proprietor,  manager,  secretary,  and  cashier  of  the 
noble  body,  an  experience  which  any  one  who  has  been  in 
a  similar  position  knows  well  how  to  appreciate. 

Our  first  tour  was  through  some  of  the  principal 
towns  in  Wisconsin  and  other  neighboring  States,  and  I 
am  happy  to  say  that  at  times  we  exhibited  with  fair 
success.  With  Beach  and  Gould  (Beach  of  the  renowned 
Beach  and  Bowers  minstrels)  added  to  our  party,  we  later 
played  an  extended,  erratic  season  in  the  wilds  of  Dakota, 
where  at  that  time  were  but  sixty  miles  of  railway  mean 
dering  through  the  Missouri  Eiver  bottom  lands,  between 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  Yankton,  Dakota,— Yankton  was  the 
capital  of  the  territory,  with  a  population  of  about  three 
thousand,  composed  principally  of  government  officials 
and  contractors. 

Journeying  farther  west,  and  up  the  Missouri  River 
to  Springfield,  Niobrara,  and  some  of  the  military  posts, 
we  were  compelled  to  use  teams  for  conveyance,  as  no  rail 
road  magnate  had,  as  yet,  penetrated  the  land  of  the  red 
man,  the  coyote  and  the  buffalo. 

Our  travels  were  necessarily  slow,  and  in  some  degree, 
tedious,  but  this  we  did  not  regret,  as  we  felt  we  were 
amply  rewarded  in  the  pleasure  enjoyed  seeing  that  new 


218  NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE 

and  unsettled  country,  and  its  natural  scenery  during  the 
beautiful  autumn  peculiar  to  Dakota,  a  country  which  has 
developed  into  a  part  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  product 
ive  land  in  the  Northwest. 

We  were  honored  with  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
minstrel  company  to  vocalize  in  those  parts,  and  the  first 
that  many  of  the  people  had  ever  seen.  And  this  was  our 
programme : 


ARMSTRONG'S  MINSTRELS!!! 


PROGRAMME  FOR  THIS  EVENING. 


Part  First. 


Introductory  Overture COMPANY 

All  Among  the  Flowers Beach  and  Gould 

Susan  Jane Jack  Briggs 

Sweet  Katie  Killaire Tommy  Gould 

Will  Be  Dar Bobby  Beach 

Take  This  Letter  to  My  Mother Mr.  McLelland 

GRAND  FINALE 

FAMOUS  BRANAGAN  BAND. 

Overture    .  ,    Orchestra 


NUGGETS  OF  ZXPHRIBNCH  219 

Part  Second. 

DOCTOR'S  TROUBLES. 

Doctor  Courtwright N.  C.  Armstrong 

Pete , Bobby  Beach 

Jimmy .Jack  Briggg 

Mr.  McCarthy ; Durbin  McLelland 

M]r.  Buck Tommy  Gould 

Selection  of  Songs  and  Harmonican  Solos. . .  .D.  McLelland 

Acrobatic  and  Breakneck  Songs  and  Dances, 
Beach  and  Gould. 

Bone  Solo N.  C.  Armstrong 

Old  Virginia  Essences Tommy  Keating 

Arrival  of  Jack  Briggs  from  South  Carolina. 

Champion  Execution  Trick  Clog  of  America 
Beach  and  Gould. 

SELECTIONS  FROM  ORCHESTRA. 

The  whole  to  Conclude  With  the  Military  Farce,  Entitled 

OBEYING  ORDERS. 

General  Bullet N.  C.  Armstrong 

Corporal  Powder Jack  Brigga 

Mary  Jane  Gunn Tommy  Keating 


220  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH 

After  a  series  of  entertainments  along  the  Big  Muddy, 
among  the  natives  (Indians),  and  return  (with  an  abund 
ance  of  experience  and  exhausted  capital),  to  civilization,  I 
located  for  a  summer  season  in  a  pleasant  little  town  in  Da 
kota,  one  member  of  my  company,  a  particular  friend, 
who,  for  convenience  sake  we  commonly  called  Jack,  also 
remained  at  that  place.  Jack  and  I  were  frequently  hav 
ing  recreations  during  the  warm  season,  and  the  months, 
seemingly  as  but  weeks,  very  pleasantly  passed  away.  For, 
although  our  amusements  were  not  all  of  the  most  agree 
able  kind  to  all  parties,  we  were  not  burdened  with  griev 
ances  of  a  serious  nature. 

On  one  particular  occasion,  a  circumstance  occurred 
which  proved  of  slight  annoyance  to  my  friend  Jack, 
though  when  assembled  with  friends  in  our  usual  diver 
sions,  he  appeared  to  enjoy  the  joke  as  hugely  as  any  of  us. 

In  my  stable  was  a  pacing  mare  that  had  won  (if 
nothing  more),  Jack's  affections,  also  a  black  gelding  that 
was  classed  with  the  trotters.  This  pacing  mare,  in  my 
opinion,  was  one  of  the  living  curiosities.  She  had  been 
in  the  eastern  states  in  her  former  years  something  of  a 
speedy  animal,  and  evidently  a  victim  of  many  experi 
ments  and  erroneous  teachings.  She  was  willful,  ugly,  full 
of  vicious  habits,  but  withal,  an  inveterate  puller.  In  fact, 
so  established  was  she  in  this  habit  that  the  strength  of  the 
ablest  man  would  make  but  slight  impression  in  the  way 
of  controlling  her  when  she  felt  disposed  to  have  her  own 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIHNCH  221 

way.  When  speeding,  I  had  found  her  so  completely  un 
controllable  that  I  gave  her  up  as  an  incurable  case. 

Jack,  in  his  accustomed  mood,  in  the  evening,  all 
smiles  and  attention,  inquired  as  usual  after  the  welfare 
of  the  pacer. 

"Jack,"  said  I.  "she  is  speedy,  but  she  is  a  bad  one. 
I  find  I  have  not  strength  enough  to  manage  her,  she  has 
pulled  me  until  I  feel  as  if  I  were  stretched  from  ocean 
to  ocean." 

"What,"  exclaimed  Jack,  "can't  hold  a  horse!  I 
should  like  to  see  the  horse  I  can't  hold!"  Thus  he  pro 
ceeded  in  a  ridiculing  manner  regarding  imbecility  and 
incapability,  boldly  expressing  confidence  in  his  own  abil 
ity  to  successfully  manipulate  any  unruly  steed  that  had 
ever  worn  harness. 

I  had  frankly  acknowledged  'my  inability  to  master 
the  brute.  She  had  fairly  defeated  me  in  a  straight  tug, 
and  so  I  resolved  to  patiently  receive  all  the  hot  shot  my 
friend  might  be  pleased  to  send,  and  to  remain  quiet  and 
undisturbed. 

When  sufficient  time  had  been  given  to  allow  the  mare 
to  recover  from  her  severe  work-out,  I  invited  Jack  for  a 
day's  outing  and  recreation  with  the  horses,  an  oppor 
tunity  which  he  was  eager  to  grasp. 

Arriving  at  the  stables,  the  horses  were  hitched  to 
sulkies, -and  Jack  invited  to  a  seat  behind  the  pacer.  I 
was  to  give  my  attention  to  the  trotter,  as  he  was  of  a 
nervous  disposition  and  required  but  one  driver.  Jack 

19 


222  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIBNCH 

was  duly  cautioned  to  handle  the  mare  with  care,  as  she 
was  soon  to  start  in  a  race,  and  under  no  circumstances 
should  she  be  permitted  to  speed.  This  I  impressed  upon 
him,  knowing  well  that  all  the  power  and  ingenuity  he 
possessed  could  not  prevent  her  speeding  when  she  felt  so 
disposed. 

Jack  promised  to  be  very  careful,  and  started  away 
with  the  pacer,  doomed  to  a  "Tam-0-Shanter"  ride,  while 
I  posed  as  a  spectator,  up  behind  the  black  gelding. 

After  reaching  the  course,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  had  been  covered,  a  sudden  thought  seemed  to  rush  to 
the  old  mare's  brain  that  she  was  being  teamed  entirely 
too  slow,— that  she  would  be  late.  She  began  to  hasten 
her  steps,  and  disagreement  was  already  visible.  Jack, 
with  unsuccessful  effort,  labored  to  control  her  to  his  lik 
ing,  but  the  more  he  would  pull  the  faster  she  would  go, 
till  round  and  round  the  course  they  went  with  ghostly 
speed,  Jack  determined  to  sooth  the  ardorous  disposition 
of  the  mare,  and  the  mare  as  thoroughly  determined  that 
her  liberties  should  not  be  interferred  with. 

In  the  midst  of  the  conflict,  hoofs  were  divested  of 
turf  appliances,  which  were  cast  hither  and  thither,  while 
horse  shoes  flew  promiscuously  through  the  air,  all  adding 
flame  to  Jack's  perplexity  of  mind,  causing  him  again  and 
again  to  vigorously  renew  his  exertions,  but  the  old  mare 
went  along  all  the  same,  continuing  her  relentless  career 
until,  confident  of  yictory  secured.  Then  slowing  her  pace 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCH  223 

»he  walked  leisurely  back  to  the  starting  point,  with  Jack 
looking  weary  of  his  job. 

With  as  grave  a  countenance  as  could  be  commanded, 
under  the  pressure  of  circumstances,  I  inquired:  "Jack, 
could  you  not  hold  her?" 

"I  have  come  to  the  conclusion,"  answered  Jack, 
"that  of  all  her  kind  I  have  come  in  contact  with,  this  is 
the  most  obstinate  one." 

"She  was  a  little  unsteady,"  I  replied.  "You  may 
jog  her  around  two  or  three  times  more,  if  you  please. 
This  fellow  has  had  work  enough,  I  will  take  him  to  the 
barn." 

Jack  made  no  audible  response,  but  plainly  evinced 
his  desire  for  a  discontinuance  of  track  work.  Hurrying 
to  the  stable,  I  closed  the  heavy  gate,  for  I  knew  the  old 
mare's  blood  was  roiled,  and  she  soon  hove  in  sight,  with 
her  head  high,  mouth  wide  stretched,  Jack  leaning  far 
back  on  the  seat,  both  hands  as  one  gripping  the  reins, 
pulling  with  all  the  strength  he  had  left,  and  calling  for 
the  gate  to  be  opened. 

The  old  mare  had  no  time  to  wait  the  opening.  She 
struck  the  gate  at  about  a  two-forty  clip,  and  stopped 
very  abruptly,  allowing  Jack  time  to  slide  to  the  earth  and 
drag  himself  from  behind  the  sulky,  the  most  defeated 
and  disgusted  looking  man  I  had  seen  for  many  many 
days.  References  to  pacing  horses  at  our  social  gatherings 
seemed  to  animate  Jack  ever  after  to  his  customary  obli 
gated  duty  of  passing  the  cigars. 


a  Comrabe's  Xettet 


CHAPTERIXX 


Some  years  ago,  a  comrade  residing  in  a  far  eastern 
state,  many  miles  away,  who  had  seen  hard  service  during 
the  Rebellion,  was  touring  Southern  California  for  his 
health.  One  year  after  his  return,  he  wrote  to  Califor 
nia.  He  gave  a  description  of  his  trip,  its  pleasures,  and 
the  points  of  interest  he  had  visited,  and  particularly 
mentioned  San  Bernardino  Valley  and  Redlands,  and  as 
he  put  it,  Redlands,  the  most  beautiful  little  city  I  have 
ever  seen,  or  ever  expect  to  see. 

And  this,  I  am  informed,  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  which 
he  received  in  return,  and  much  enjoyed  reading: 

Dear  Comrade:  I  deem  it  not  necessary  to  say  that 
I  am  glad  to  hear  from  you,  or  to  receive  the  letter  I  have 
so  long  waited  and  hoped  for.  The  letter  that  is,  as  the 
letter  from  far  across  the  deep  blue  sea;  the  letter  that 
calls  to  my  memory  the  days  when  we  were  younger  than 
we  now  are,  and  the  many  pleasant  occurrences,  and  some 
occurrences  that  were  not  so  delightfully  pleasant  in  that 
long  ago,  when,  together  we  toddled  through  boyhood's 
days ;  when,  together,  we  signed  an  allegiance  to  our  coun 
try  in  her  hour  of  need;  together,  we  passed  through  the 
bloody  angles  in  battle,  which  the  fortune  of  war  decreed 


228  NUGGETS  OF  HXPHRIUNCH 

the  Invincible!  Second  Army  Corps.  After  the  disband- 
ment  of  the  volunteers,  together,  we  returned  to  our  home, 
and  peaceful  life;  thirty-seven  years  having  elapsed,  we 
met  in  this  land  of  wonder  and  perpetual  summer,  which, 
to  me,  was  the  most  pleasing  event  of  my  years'  experi 
ence  along  the  coast  of  California,  all  of  which  must 
be  added  to  fill  the  pages  of  the  life  of  the  wanderer, 
still  buffeting  the  waves  of  a  turbulent  sea. 

I  have  thought  of  many  things  since  your  departure 
from  this  fair  city;  oh,  for  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand, 
and  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still !  My  heart  has 
yearned  for  the  dear  ones  that  have  long  passed  beyond 
the  beautiful  river;  for  the  land  of  my  childhood  (bless 
those  happy  days),  Auld  Lang  Syne,  and  the  dear  old 
folks  at  home. 

But,  I  pray  you,  do  not  think  me  lamenting  my  lot 
in  life.  "I  am  not."  Although  I  have  passed  through 
many  reverses,  if  the  old  flag  were  in  peril  today,  as  in 
the  days  of  our  youth,  I  would  readily  repeat  the  act.  "Tis 
true,  I  regret  the  burden  of  broken  health,  which  has  been 
a  great  obstruction  to  advancements  and  comfort  in  late 
years,  and  at  times  I  am  sad  at  heart.  Then  I  bethink 
me,  and  congratulate  myself  that  I  am  much  better  cir 
cumstanced  than  thousands  of  others,  and  I  am  grateful 
that  I  am  permitted  to  enjoy  sufficient  health  to  be  on  foot, 
to  move  about  as  I  do;  to  help  comfort  my  comrades  in 
arms,  and  to  write  letters  to  them— dear  to  me  as  brothers. 


NUGGETS  OP  EXPERIENCE  231 

Comrade,  have  you  ever  realized  the  fact  that  one 
blessed  with  so  genial  a  disposition  as  yourself,  who,  seem 
ingly,  can  look  upon  the  bright  side  of  all  things,  can  be 
of  material  benefit  to  those  with  minds  so  differently  con 
stituted  as  to  see  the  dark  side  of  many  things? 

I  speak  of  this  prevailing  ailment  of  mankind  not  be 
cause  I  believe  it  to  be  an  habitual  preference.  It  may  be 
circumstantial,  possibly  inheritance,  probably  negligence, 
which,  in  either  ease,  in  my  mind,  may  be  overcome  by 
proper  associations  and  adherence  to  good  and  cheerful 
thoughts.  I  have  often  thought  of  your  urgent  advice  in 
regard  to  happiness.  I  have  long  since  become  reconciled 
to  my  lonely  fate,  the  life  of  a  hermit,  and  for  the  past 
few  months  my  time  has  been  fully  and  pleasantly  occu 
pied  improving  and  beautifying  the  hermitage,  "the  little 
redwood  Qabin  on  the  hill." 

I  am  happy  in  the  thought  that  you  have  experienced 
an  enjoyable  tour  across  the  continent,  along  the  coast  of 
California,  and  return  to  your  home  feeling  that  you  have 
been  richly  repaid  for  your  time  and  expenditures,  in 
health,  benefit  and  the  pleasure  of  the  beautiful  scenery  in 
this  Land  of  Gold  and  Sunshine ;  and,  my  dear  old  friend, 
my  sincere  wishes  to  you  are,  "That  you  may  enjoy  many 
such  pleasures,  and  may  the  evening  of  your  years  in  thi* 
sphere  be  a  long  and  happy  one." 


233  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

The  poet  writes: 
Among  the  thoughts  of  youthful  day§ 

One  thought  I  can  recall, 
"  'Twere  better  to  have  loved  and  lost, 

Than  never  to  have  loved  at  all. 
Again  in  later  years  he  thought, 

And  that  thought  of  his  did  run, 
'Twere  better  to  have  loved  and  lost, 

Than  to  have  loved  and  won!" 

In  those  California  days  his  thoughts  would  seem  to 
Bay: 

Oh,  that  some  kind-hearted  one  might  pity  on  me  take, 

And  remove  from  my  home  the  bitter  pill! 
The  angels  will  bless  her  who  will  share  my  humble  lot 

In  the  little  redwood  cabin  on  the  hill! 
When  in  later  years  our  locks  shall  silvered  be, 

As  two  loving  sweethearts  we'll  fill  the  bill 
And  we'll  forget  the  trials  and  troubles  of  the  past, 

In  the  little  redwood  cabin  on  the  hill. 

I  thank  you  for  the  visits  you  gave  me, 

In  the  redwood  cabin  so  unexpectedly, 
When  you  ponder  on  this  golden  shore, 

And  the  blue  Pacific's  rolling  sea, 
Methinks  your  thoughts  will  wander  far 

To  Redland's  heights  and  valley  free, 
The  beacon  light  of  the  harbor  bar 

And  thus  in  candor,  ever  be. 


NUGGETS  OP  HXPHRIHNCH  233 

0,  California,  'tis  sad  to  leave  you! 

Thy  land  of  flowers  and  scenic  glee! 
For  sacred  ties  I  will  say  "Good-by!" 

I  would  my  home  might  be  with  thee. 
When  far  away  in  my  native  State, 

"Where  the  snow  doth  robe  the  grassy  lee, 
I  will  oft  return  to  thy  sunny  clime, 

In  silent,  blissful  reverie. 

Come  again,  comrade!     We  shall  be  prepared  to  en 
tertain  you  in  a  more  royal  manner  than  ever  before. 


tlwfce  an  ©utcast 

a  Warfcen'0  Experience 


CHAPTER  XXI 


With  justice  to  all  and  hopes  for  good  results,  I  give 
this  story  to  the  public.  I  have  no  desire  to  heroize  my- 
•elf,  I  have  reached  the  years  beyond  that  point  of  life. 
There  shall  be  no  joy  in  my  bosom  that  any  one  shall  be 
displeased.  I  have  simply  related  the  facts  as  I  knew  and 
remember  them.  If  it  shall  save  one  from  the  fate  that 
befell  the  hero  of  my  narrative,  I  shall  feel  that  I  have 
done  some  good  for  mankind,  and  that  I  shall  be  amply 
repaid  for  my  services. 

After  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  by  reason  of  impaired 
health,  I  had  moved  about  a  good  deal  over  the  territory 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  it  was  about  the 
first  days  of  the  seventies,  when  I  reached  the  beautiful 
little  city  of  Janesville,  with  no  definite  period  determined 
upon  as  to  residence. 

Soon  after  my  arrival,  while  being  busily  engaged  one 
afternoon  about  my  temporized  place  of  business,  a  boy 
came  to  me,  whose  peculiar  appearance  caused  me  to  defer 
my  affairs  for  a  time,  and  to  look  upon  him  with  some  de 
gree  of  feeling.  I  had  often  seen  his  similar,  but  in  the 
combination  of  his  make-up,  was  something  different 
from  all  others,  that  seemed  to  attract  my  attention  and 


238  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

sympathy.  He  was  but  a  small  child,  thin  in  flesh.  The 
garments  he  wore  were  in  tatters  that  dangled  and  wound 
around  his  little  body  as  he  moved  about;  they  were  un 
clean,  and  much  too  large  for  the  frail  looking  little  form 
that  they  were  intended  to  comfort.  His  head  was  a  tang 
led  mass  of  hair,  with  putrid  sore  and  scab  that  covered 
the  entire  scalp,  where  vermin  were  visible.  As  I  gazed 
upon  him  in  wonder,  I  thought  he  certainly  had  acquired 
all  the  symptoms  of  a  much  neglected  child,  a  living  waif 
of  the  street.  With  all,  there  were  an  air  of  gentleness. 

I  was  informed  that  his  mother  had  died  about  the 
time  of  his  birth,  and  that  his  father,  who  was  a  tailor  by 
trade,  was  out  of  the  city  and  did  not  often  see  his  little 
boy.  That  the  boy  had  a  step-mother,  and  no  home.  He 
picked  up  something  to  eat  as  best  he  could,  and  usually 
found  a  sleeping  place  in  a  dry  goods  box,  or  livery  stable, 
as  the  opportunity  might  be  presented.  I  took  the  liberty 
to  apply  a  lotion  to  his  afflicted  head  which  in  a  few  days 
cleansed  and  healed  the  scalp,  restoring  it  to  a  natural 
condition  of  health,  thereby  allowing  the  use  of  a  comb 
in  his  hair.  Advice  in  regard  to  neatness  was  also  given 
him,  which  he  seemed  to  appreciate  as  being  very  kind. 
The  little  one  came  often  to  see  me  after,  and  I,  after 
some  time,  discovered  that  I  had  begun  to  feel  pleased  to 
have  him  come. 

One  evening  he  came  crying  to  tell  me  that  that  morn 
ing  his  father  had  been  found  dead  in  his  room  at  the 
hotel  at  a  city  some  fifty  miles  distant,  and  finished  his 


NUGGHTS  OP  BXPHRIBNCB  239 

story  by  asking  if  he  could  live  with  me.  The  question 
was  a  serious  one  for  me  to  consider,  and  I  was  at  sea  to 
know  how  to  reply.  I  was,  at  that  time,  associated  with  a 
gentleman  in  Illinois,  furnishing  horses  from  that  state 
and  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  for  the  eastern  markets.  The 
business,  at  times,  called  me  to  one  state  or  to  the  other, 
and  as  far  east  as  Albany,  Boston,  and  New  York  city.  I 
was  likely  to  be  in  New  York  during  a  portion  of  the  warm 
season,  and  in  the  southeastern  states  for  the  winter.  The 
uppermost  question  in  my  mind  was,  "Can  I  properly  rear 
and  care  for  a  boy?" 

I  thought  of  the  dead  father,  the  indifference  of  a 
step-mother.  I  saw  the  forsaken  child  before  me,  his  up 
turned  face,  tears  streaming  down  the  wan  and  emaciated 
cheeks,  earnestly  asking  for  a  home  and  friend.  Could  I 
refuse  the  request  of  the  orphan.  The  thought  came  to 
me,  if  a  man  can  ever  do  a  Christian  act,  here  is  a  splendid 
opportunity.  A  little  hand  crept  carefully  into  my  own 
and  I  was  at  once  a  captive.  There  was  not  cold  blood 
enough  coursing  through  my  heart  to  say  no.  For  a  few 
moments  I  did  not  talk.  We  walked  along,  hand  in  hand, 
when  again  the  child  voice  spoke,  "Can  I  stay?"  "Yes," 
I  replied,  "come  in,  you  shall  live  with  me;  you  shall  be 
my  boy,  and  I  shall  try  to  be  a  father  to  you. ' '  The  facts 
were  made  known  to  the  step-mother,  who  appeared  un 
concerned  as  to  with  whom,  or  where  the  child  might  be. 

The  boy  was  cleansed  and  clothed.  His  little  cheeks  soon 
grew  round  and  rosy ;  he  practiced  no  bad  habits,  and 


240  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

obeyed  my  every  wish  without  a  murmur.  I  never  found  it 
necessary  to  punish  him.  It  was  his  custom  and  delight  to 
sit  on  my  knee  and  have  me  recite  comic  lines  in  the  Irish 
dialect,  while  he  would  caress  me  as  a  fond  child  with  its 
mother.  He  was  affectionate  and  of  sweet  disposition.  Our 
attachment  became  mutual. 

About  one  year  after  he  came  to  live  with  me,  I  caused 
to  be  executed  Articles  of  Apprenticeship.  This  was  done 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  binding  us  more  closely  to  each 
other,  and  that  I  could  feel  that  whatever  I  did  for  the  boy 
I  was  doing  for  my  own.  To  this,  the  relatives  offered  no 
objections.  The  boy  was  started  to  school,  and  all  went 
well. 

Now  feeling  that  greater  responsibilities  were  resting 
upon  me,  I  endeavored  to  do  the  best  possible  for  my  little 
ward.  His  studies  and  recitations  I  gave  my  personal  at 
tention.  I  organized  troupes  and  performed  them  for  his 
special  benefit,  that  he  might  gain  practical  knowledge  of 
minstrelsy.  When  I  went  out  with  a  troupe,  he  was  always 
with  me.  If  I  went  to  Chicago,  or  other  cities,  he  was  by 
my  side,  and  permitted  to  sit  before  the  most  talented 
artists  of  the  day,  in  the  profession  in  which  I  was  trying 
to  educate  him,  the  art  of  which,  he,  as  well  as  myself,  so 
much  desired  he  should  accomplish.  I  made  myself  his  con 
stant  companion.  If  I  had  an  outing  he  was  given  all  the 
enjoyment  it  might  afford.  When  I  was  called  away  on 


NUGGHTS  OF  EXPERIENCE  241 

business,  my  greatest  thought  was  to  return  to  him  at  the 
earliest  practicable  opportunity.  No  matter  what  my  busi 
ness  might  be,  he  was  always  foremost  in  my  mind.  No 
child  was  ever  dearer  to  a  parent  than  he  to  me,  and  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  knowing  that  he  loved  me  in  return.  I  did 
not  know  of  a  living  relative  of  my  own ;  he  was  my  all,  my 
most  sacred  care.  I  did  all  in  my  power  for  his  elevation 
and  advancement.  For  this,  I  have  no  regret.  I  crave  no 
honors. 

The  Peaks,  who,  as  a  family  of  father,  mother,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  had  gained  some  notoriety  in  years 
past  as  Swiss  Bell  Ringers,  now  appeared  at  Janesville  as  a 
comedy  company,  with  Fannie  (Mrs.  Fitz)  the  only  mem 
ber  of  the  old  family  with  it,  as  sole  proprietress  and  still 
retaining  the  original  title. 

When  the  Peak  family  managers  came  to  me  to  negoti 
ate  the  services  of  the  boy,  I  was  reluctant  to  let  him  go. 
He  was  young,  small  of  his  age,  and  I  wanted  him  to  attend 
school,  which  I  thought  of  greater  importance  at  that 
time.  The  troupe  went  away  without  him.  Wyman  (one 
of  the  company)  was  sent  back  from  the  next  town  to  make 
the  final  effort  to  secure  the  boy.  The  boy  wanted  to  go, 
there  was  no  salary,  but  the  fact  of  the  head  of  the  troupe 
being  a  woman  who  had  children  of  her  own,  it  seemed  to 
me  that  the  boy  would  be  safe  with  her,  and  derive  some 
benefit  from  practice.  They  finally  succeeded  in  obtaining 


242  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

my  consent  to  let  him  go  for  a  short  time,  provided  Fannie 
would  (as  she  had  promised)  devote  at  least  two  hours  each 
day  to  his  studies  and  recitations,  which  I  found  later  she 
had  entirely  neglected.  I  visited  him  at  different  times, 
always  giving  him  such  encouragement  and  advice  as  I 
thought  necessary. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  I  received  a  letter 
from  the  manager  of  the  Peak  family,  informing  me  that 
my  boy  had  become  unmanageable  and  was  needing  my  im 
mediate  attention,  and  that  it  would  be  well  if  I  would  write 
him  a  strong  letter  of  instructions.  Knowing  that  in  such 
a  case  as  had  been  described  to  me,  that  my  personal  ap 
pearance  would  be  the  most  efficient  remedy,  I  accordingly 
made  preparations  to  meet  the  troupe  at  the  place  I  had 
been  advised  to  address  my  letter.  The  boy  did  not  know 
there  had  been  a  complaint  laid  against  him,  and  was  de 
lighted  to  see  me.  I  remained  with  him  two  or  three  days, 
and  our  visit  was  a  most  pleasurable  one.  When  he  found 
that  Fannie  had  written  and  caused  me  to  neglect  my  busi 
ness,  by  reason  of  his  disobedience,  when  he  had  done  noth 
ing  contrary  to  her  wishes  but  to  play  a  game  of  billiards, 
he  wept  bitterly,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  go  home  with  me. 
At  this  time  he  had  been  with  the  troupe  more  than  a  year, 
the  manager  always  requesting  more  time  to  fill  his  place  in 
the  company.  I  had  informed  Fannie  that  the  time  would 
necessarily  »oon  arrive  when  the  boy  must  leave  her,  as  I 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  243 

wanted  him  to  attend  school  the  coming  year.  I  assured 
him  that  he  should  return  to  me,  and  school,  and 
we  would  then  be  together;  this  seemed  to  satisfy  him  and 
we  parted  with  all  the  affection  of  a  father  and  son. 

Some  time  later,  I  was  informed  that  the  Peak  family 
were  contemplating  a  trip  to  California,  and  as  my  boy 
was  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  troupe,  was  determined  to 
take  him  with  them,  contrary  to  my  wishes,  and  that  cor 
respondence  to  that  end  had  been  going  on  for  some  time 
between  the  Peaks  and  the  relatives  of  the  boy.  This  thun 
derbolt  struck  me  to  the  heart.  I  had  not  heard,  or  thought 
of  such  a  move.  I  could  not  think  that  his  sister,  who  was 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  circumstances  from  the  time  of 
my  earliest  giving  the  boy  attention,  and  had  always  ap 
peared  pleased  that  he  was  being  kindly  cared  for,  could  be 
so  false.  I  called  at  her  dwelling  to  ascertain  the  facts  in 
the  matter,  and  received  a  bountiful  supply  of  abuse  for  my 
pains ;  for  she  had  the  tongue  of  a  daughter  of  the  Green 
Isle. 

I  walked  away  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  communi 
cation  that  had  come  to  me  was  not  a  mistake,  and  that  the 
affair  was  a  deeply  seated  one.  I  at  once  saw  through  it  all ; 
I  saw  that  the  battle  of  my  life  was  fast  approaching,  and 
that  the  destiny  of  the  dearest  one  on  earth  to  me  was  at 
stake.  I  knew  my  boy  well.  It  was  my  cherished  hope  and 
ambition  (as  I  replied  to  Bennett  in  the  court,  when  he  ap- 


244  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE, 

plied  the  question  "what  do  you  want  to  do  with  the 
boy!")  to  make  a  man  of  him.  I  held  perfect  control  over 
him ;  he,  always  receiving  my  advice  in  the  most  kindly  and 
submissive  manner.  He  was  free  from  vice,  morally  pure, 
but  I  could  plainly  see  his  finish  should  he  be  deprived  of 
my  influence  at  his  present  age  of  thirteen  years,  to  which 
he  had  barely  attained.  His  ruin  was  staring  me  in  the 
face;  my  duty  called  me  to  his  rescue,  and  I  threw  my  ut 
most  strength  into  the  struggle  to  save  him.  I  labored  dili 
gently  with  his  relatives  and  friends,  I  earnestly  pleaded  the 
necessity  of  education ;  I  begged  of  them  with  all  the  force 
and  ingenuity  within  my  ability  to  help  me  save  the  boy 
from  the  hazardous  step  they  were  about  to  compel  him  to 
take. 

All  my  efforts  were  fruitless.  The  Peak  woman  had 
drawn  an  illustration  that  pleased  the  imaginary  idea  of  the 
relatives,  they  could  not  be  induced  to  hear  to  reason,  and 
matters  grew  from  bad  to  worse.  The  boy  was  sent  to  the 
relatives  to  be  near,  but  to  be  kept  apart  and  not  permitted 
to  converse  or  speak  with  me;  by  this  strategy  provoke  an 
attack  that  would  aid  the  Peaks  to  secure  control  of  the  boy. 
The  Peaks  came  also,  and  the  skirmish  continued  until  the 
final  battle  line  was  reached  in  the  courts,  of  which  the 
proceedings  and  results  will  be  found  in  the  following  notes, 
clipped  from  the  different  journals  of  the  city  written  by 
the  hands  of  those  estimable  gentlemen  of  the  Janesville 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCB  245 

Gazette  and  the  Eock  County  Recorder,  who  knew  me  well, 
and  knew  my  ward  and  the  circumstances  of  his  life  from 
his  earliest  infancy. 

NEWSPAPER  NOTES. 

MINSTRELS. 

The  California  Mjinstrels  appeared  on  Saturday  night  at 
Lappin's  hall  before  a  good  audience,  and  executed  a  pro 
gramme  of  interesting  specialties  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  spectators.  The  Rowan  Brothers  of  this  city,  appear 
ed  in  connection  with  the  company  in  double  song  and 
dance.  Johnny  Shay,  N.  Armstrong,  T.  Nolen  and  Burt 
Stow  contributed  their  stage  wit  and  musical  talent  to  the 
evening's  entertainment,  producing  an  enjoyable  affair 
throughout.  The  company  goes  west  from  this  city.— 
Janesville  Gazette. 

Charley  Rowan,  our  little  bonist  and  great  song  and 
dance  artist,  has  joined  the  Peak  Family  Bell  Ringers  for 
a  trip  through  the  eastern  country.  He  was  a  favorite  of 
all  who  knew  him,  and  will  be  missed  by  many  friends  who 
have  known  him  from  infancy.  To  Mr.  N.  Armstrong  much 
credit  is  due  for  taking  this  little  orphan  to  his  arms  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death  and  tenderly  watching  over  him 
with  a  father's  love.  He  will  miss  him  more  than  all.— 
Eock  County  Recorder. 


246  NUGGHTS  OP  HXPBRIBNCB 

"DOT." 

About  two  years  ago  little  Charlie  Rowan,  of  thif  City, 
was  employed  by  the  Peak  family  to  take  part  in  its  per 
formances.  Since  that  time  he  has  traveled  over  most  of 
the  states  of  the  Union,  and  has  become  a  valuable  acquisi 
tion  to  the  troupe.  The  part  he  took  in  the  "Flirtation 
Duette"  at  Myer's  Opera  House  last  Monday  evening  waa 
well  played  and  brought  down  the  house.  The  "bone  solo" 
and  "clog  dance "  in  which  he  took  an  active  part  drew 
forth  rounds  of  applause  from  the  audience,  and  as  "Call 
Boy"  he  was  equally  successful.  He  is  graceful  on  the  stage, 
and  with  proper  training  is  destined  to  make  his  mark  in 
the  world.  The  company  advertise  him  under  the  name  of 
"Dot."  Years  ago,  when  a  small  child,  his  parents  died, 
leaving  him  destitute  and  to  the  mercy  of  a  cold  world.  Mr. 
N.  Armstrong,  of  this  city,  who  has  a  big  heart,  took  the 
little  fellow  in  care,  and  has  ever  since  been  as  a  father  to 
him,  and  no  doubt  loves  him  as  if  he  were  his  own  child. 
Once  during  the  past  two  years  he  went  to  West  Virginia 
where  the  company  was  playing  to  see  him.  "Dot"  has 
good  reason  for  looking  upon  Mr.  Armstrong  as  a  father  to 
whom  he  is  indebted  for  his  present  position  and  past  carei 
which  he  cannot  very  soon  repay.— Rock  County  Recorder. 


Willie    Knight         Mr.    Armstrong         Charley    Rowan 
LAST  OF  OUR  HAPPY  DAYS 


NUGGETS  OF  BXPBRIBNCH  249 

THE   CASE  OF  CHARLEY  ROWAN. 

A  case  came  up  in  Justice  Patten's  court  yesterday  in 
volving  the  custody  of  Charley  Rowan,  who  has  been  with 
the  Peak  family  for  nearly  two  years.  It  appears  from  the 
articles  of  indenture,  that  Nelson  Armstrong,  of  this  city, 
took  Charley  as  an  apprentice,  and  bound  himself  to  teach 
him  the  trade  and  art  of  minstrelsy,  and  was  to  have  hia 
services  until  the  boy  attained  the  age  of  21  years.  Arm 
strong  took  him  in  hand,  taught  him  to  dance  and  to  man 
ipulate  the  bones,  and  today  Charley  has  no  superior  in 
these  arts  in  the  West.  He  is  now  one  of  the  most  valuable 
members  of  the  Peak  family  troupe,  and  pleases  multitudes 
wherever  he  appears.  He  is  good  property,  and  the  Peaka 
and  Mr.  Armstrong  know  it.  On  the  20th  of  March  Charley 
left  the  troupe  temporarily,  and  came  home  to  see  his  rela 
tives  and  friends.  Mr.  Armstrong,  thinking  that  Charley 
had  unlawfully  departed  from  his  services,  applied  for  a 
warrant  to  apprehend  him  and  return  him  to  his  custody. 
The  warrant  was  issued,  and  yesterday  the  case  came  up  be 
fore  Justice  Patten.  The  articles  of  indenture  of  appren 
ticeship  were  given  in  evidence,  and  testimony  taken  as  to 
the  care  and  treatment  Charley  Rowan  had  received  from 
Mr.  Armstrong,  which  proved  that  the  care  and  treatment 
had  been  good.  As  there  was  no  contradictory  evidence,  Mr. 
Patten  decided  that  Armstrong  was  entitled  to  the  custody 

of  Charley.    The  only  question  is  whether  the  art  or  trade 
11 


250  NUGGHTS  OF 

of  dancing  and  bone-playing  is  such  as  the  law  would  hold 
a  proper  and  legitimate  trade.  Charley  does  not  complain 
of  Mr.  Armstrong's  treatment,  but  says  he  has  been  very 
kind  to  him.  Armstrong  now  desires  that  Charley  shall  stay 
at  home  this  summer  and  attend  school,  and  if  he  rejoins  the 
Peak  family  that  he  shall  receive  a  larger  salary  than  that 
now  paid  him,  which  is  only  nominal.  It  is  now  agreed  be 
tween  Mr.  Armstrong  and  the  relatives  of  Charley  that 
while  on  a  visit  here,  he  may  visit  his  friends  during  the 
day,  but  must  report  himself  to  Mr.  Armstrong  at  night. 
Whether  the  question  of  custodianship  will  be  carried  be 
fore  the  county  judge,  remains  to  be  seen.—Janesville  Get- 
zette. 

THE  CHARLEY  ROWAN  CASE. 

As  we  expected,  the  friends  of  Charley  Rowan,  the 
dancer  and  bone  soloist,  who  has  been  traveling  with  the 
Peak  family  for  two  years,  have  taken  his  case  before  Amoa 
P.  Prichard,  County  Judge,  and  will  try  and  secure  the 
custody  of  the  boy.  Fannie  Peak  is  also  interested  in  the 
proceedings,  as  Charley  is  the  most  valuable  member  of  the 
troupe.  It  will  be  remembered  that  only  a  few  years  ago, 
Charley  was  running  the  street,  destitute  of  sufficient 
clothing,  no  permanent  home  and  picked  up  his  living  as 
best  he  could.  He  was  a  born  dancer,  as  from  early  child 
hood  he  displayed  unusual  ability  in  dancing.  Mr.  Nelson 
Armstrong  took  compassion  on  the  lad,  had  articles  of  ap- 


NUGGETS  OF  HXPBRIBNCB  251 

prenticeship  drawn  up,  duly  signed,  and  then  took  the  boy 
home.  He  gave  him  instructions  in  dancing  and  general 
minstrelsy,  clothed  him  well,  and  two  years  ago  secured  him 
a  position  in  the  Peak  family.  Now  that  Charley  is 
" somebody,"  and  his  services  are  of  considerable  value,  hia 
friends  and  relatives,  who  once  declared  in  a  justice  court 
that  he  was  a  vagrant,  now  want  a  decision  that  the  articles 
of  apprenticeship  are  a  nullity,  and  that  the  custody  of  the 
boy  belongs  to  them  and  not  to  Mr.  Armstrong,  The  matter 
first  came  up  before  Justice  Patten  a  few  days  ago,  who 
decided  that  Mr.  Armstrong  is  entitled  to  the  custody  and 
services  of  the  boy.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  evidence, 
and  the  case,  which  commenced  this  morning,  will  continue 
all  day.  Bennett  &  Sale  are  the  attorneys  for  the  relatives, 
and  Mr.  Patterson  and  William  Smith,  Jr.  for  Mr.  Arm 
strong.—  Janesville  Gazette. 

THE  ROWAN  CASE. 

The  testimony  and  arguments  in  the  Charley  Rowan  case 
were  finished  today,  and  Judge  Pri chard  has  reserved  his 
opinion  until  tomorrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock.  The 
ground  on  which  the  relatives  of  the  boy  seek  to  get  posses 
sion  of  him  is  that,  in  Armstrong  allowing  Charley  to  travel 
with  the  Peak  family,  he  passed  from  under  his  control, 
and  thereby  neglected  him.  The  question  of  the  profession 
of  minstrelsy  being  a  trade  under  the  statutes,  can  only  be 
decided  in  the  circuit  court.  The  statutes  provide  that  in 


252  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

case  any  apprentice  shall  be  misused,  ill-treated  or  neglected 
by  his  master,  or  by  any  person  under  the  direction  or  by 
the  permission  of  such  master,  the  next  friend  of  the  ap 
prentice,  or  any  person  in  his  behalf,  may  file  a  complaint 
in  the  county  court,  setting  forth  the  facts  and  circum 
stances  of  the  case.  It  is  not  claimed  that  the  boy  had  been 
misused,  ill-treated  or  actually  neglected  by  Mr.  Arm 
strong,  but  the  simple  act  of  allowing  him  to  go  with  the 
Peak  family  as  a  performer,  was  a  sufficient  neglect,  under 
the  statute,  to  warrant  the  county  court  in  breaking  the 
articles  of  apprenticeship,  and  compelling  Armstrong  to  de 
liver  the  boy  to  his  relatives.— Rock  County  Recorder. 

THE  ROWAN   CASE. 

Judge  Prichard  gave  a  decision  in  the  case  of  Charley 
Rowan  this  morning  at  nine  o'clock.  The  statute  in  rela 
tion  to  apprentices  requires  that  some  profession,  trade  or 
employment  shall  be  specified  in  the  articles  establishing 
the  apprenticeship  to  be  taught  to  the  infant.  The  instru 
ment  by  which  Charley  Rowan  was  apprenticed  to  Mr. 
Armstrong,  required  that  the  former  should  be  taught  the 
art  or  trade  of  minstrelsy.  This  the  court  decided  is  not  a 
profession,  trade  or  employment,  within  the  meaning  of  the 
law  of  this  state ;  and,  therefore,  that  the  relation  of  master 
and  apprentice  never  legally  existed  between  Armstrong 
and  Rowan.  The  proceedings  in  this  case  were  for  the  re- 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  253 

moval  of  Mr.  Armstrong  for  neglect  of  the  boy.  The  order 
for  removal  could  only  be  made  in  case  the  relation  of 
master  and  apprentice  legally  existed,  hence  the  only  order 
the  court  could  make  in  the  case  was  to  dismiss  the  pro 
ceedings,  which  we  understand  was  done.  What  will  be  the 
next  step  by  Mr.  Armstrong  we  do  not  know.— Janes  ville 
Gazette. 

The  usual  routine  was  gone  through  in  the  courts,  and 
the  proceedings  were  dismissed.  The  contest  was  unequal, 
and  unjust.  It  was  many  against  one,  and  a  barbarous  act 
for  a  selfish  motive.  Oh,  humanity !  humanity !  What  deeds 
of  brutality  are  committed  in  thy  name! 

I  did  my  duty  and  my  best.  Attorneys  Patterson  and 
Smith  heroically  and  generously  defended  me.  Bennett 
was  insolent  and  abusive.  Sales  was  mild  and  gentlemanly, 
and  afterwards  personally  apologized  for  the  part  he  had 
taken  in  the  case. 

Charley  was  manly  through  all  the  trouble ;  he  had  not 
forgotten  his  teachings;  he  gave  me  no  unpleasant  words, 
he  paid  me  all  the  respect  due  a  parent  from  a  dutiful  child. 
In  the  courts  he  was  noble,  nobler  than  any  of  all,  who  were 
preparing  the  way  for  his  destruction.  He  could  not  be  in 
duced  to  say  he  had  been  ill-treated  or  neglected ;  when  the 
attempt  was  made  to  place  the  words  in  his  mouth,  he 
promptly  replied:  "No,  sir;  Mr.  Armstrong  was  always 
very  kind  to  me." 


254  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

When  all  was  over  he  gave  an  affectionate  ' '  good-by, ' ' 
but  I  was  heavily  burdened  and  my  lips  were  mute  to  the 
words  my  heart  would  speak.  The  influence  that  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  boy  was  overwhelming.  He  went 
to  California  with  the  Peak  family,  and  the  little  diamond 
to  which  I  had  stooped  when  in  its  crude  form ;  raised  from 
the  filth,  loved,  cherished,  and  diligently  watched  over,  pol 
ished  to  its  brilliant  luster,  was  lost  to  me  forever.  I  never 
saw  him  again.  Dear  reader,  can  you  sympathize  with  me ; 
or  will  you  say  I  was  a  fool  for  loving  and  defending  my 
ward? 

I  betook  me  to  Dakota  territory,  with  the  thought  to 
forget  my  bereavement  in  the  mines,  and  the  Black  Hills,  I 
did  not  reach  the  hills  for  some  years  later,  nor  did  I  for 
get.  I  thought,  I  continued  to  think,  I  am  thinking  now, 
and  I  shall  not  cease  thinking  until  thought  shall  be  no 
more. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Peak  family  in  California, 
while  scanning  the  columns  of  a  journal  that  had  been  sent 
to  me  from  the  city  of  my  pleasures  and  sorrows,  my  eyes 
fell  upon  two  conspicuous  crosses  of  the  pencil  under  which 
were  these  lines: 

"  Times  in  California  are  said  to  be  terrible.  A  great 
drough  also  prevails,  and  no  prospect  of  a  crop.  Charley 
Eowan  is  there,  dead-broke  and  wants  to  come  home.  Has 
he  any  friends  to  help  him  t 


NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE  255 

' '  The  Peak  family,  insufficient  to  cope  with  talent  of  the 
Pacific  coast,  engulfed  in  financial  embarrassment,  the 
members  were  cast  to  the  many  winds,  each  one  compelled 
to  shift  for  himself,  three  thousand  miles  away,  with  the 
Rocky  Mountains  between.  Spark,  (Willie  Knight,  Char 
ley's  mate,  a  noble  little  fellow,  who  ranked  second  on  the 
list  in  my  affections  to  my  own  charge),  was  recalled  to  hii 
home  to  take  up  his  school.  Charley,  uneducated,  with  no 
kind  adviser  to  guide  his  young  mind  through  the  misty 
valley  of  life,  was  doomed  to  fight  out  his  future  battles 
alone.  The  resort,  the  vile  houses  of  amusements.  The  re 
sult,  the  old  story. 

But  few  short  years  and  the  message.  I  regret  the  mil- 
laying  of  the  letter,  unabling  me  to  give  the  original  in  full. 
The  momentous,  however,  is  with  me.  I  read  it  many  times. 

Dear  Friend:  Will  you  forgive  met  I  was  drifted, 
and  drifted  from  you,  you  were  the  only  friend  I  have  ever 
had.  If  you  will  send  me  means  to  go  over  the  road  to  you, 
I  will  do  anything  you  ask  of  me.  I  have  grown  a  good  deal 
since  you  saw  me.  I  am  a  good  deal  taller.  Send  me  meani 
to  go  over  the  road.  Your 

Other  letters  came,  each  one  being  a  repetition  of  tht 
former.  Relatives  expressed  regrets,  but  all  was  too  late, 
the  opportunity  of  his  life  had  passed;  gone,  never  to  r«- 
turn. 


256  NUGGETS  OF  EXPERIENCE 

I  behold  the  reproduction  of  the  first  scene  of  the 
drama.  The  orphan  in  misery ;  twice  an  outcast ;  craving  a 
friend. 

I  could  easily  forgive;  I  looked  upon  him  as  not  the 
offender;  I  still  loved  the  boy  and  would  gladly  have  given 
him  shelter  and  care.  I  could  not  help  him  now,  as  I  could 
have  done  years  before.  My  army  disabilities  were  bear 
ing  heavily  upon  me;  necessity  was  compelling  me  to  give 
my  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  care  of  my  rapidly  fail 
ing  health. 

My  meetings  with  people  of  the  profession,  who  impart 
information,  were  frequent.  Still  suffering,  I  secured  quar 
ters  at  the  Chicago  Homeopathic  College  during  the  lecture 
course,  for  the  purpose  of  treatment  and  to  more  thor 
oughly  fit  myself  for  the  care  of  my  bodily  ailments,  deter 
mined  to  return  by  Janesville;  for  I  longed  to  see  my  lost 
boy  and  to  aid  him  if  possible. 

It  was  early  spring;  the  railroads  were  in  bad  condi 
tion;  our  route  was  circuitous,  and  we  did  not  reach  our 
destination  until  night.  Going  directly  from  train  to  hotel, 
I  secured  accommodations,  took  supper,  then  proceeded  to 
the  barber  of  my  choice  when  I  was  a  resident  of  the  city. 
The  son  of  the  old  proprietor  was  now  managing  the  busi 
ness,  who  recognized  me  as  I  entered  the  place.  He  greeted 
me  kindly,  invited  me  to  his  chair,  and,  as  I  took  the  seat, 
he  remarked :  ' '  The  boy  whom  you  tried  to  make  a  man  of 


NUGGHTS  OF  HXPHRIHNCB  257 

departed  this  life  five  weeks  past. ' '    Having  no  more  inter 
est  in  the  city  I  repaired  to  my  home  in  the  West. 

My  life's  journey  has  continued.  The  years  have  come 
and  gone.  My  little  hero  has  long  slept  beneath  the  green 
sward  of  the  Badger  State,  and  I  am  an  old  man  with  sil 
vered  locks,  biding  my  time  in  the  genial  climate  on  the 
coast  of  California.  Every  incident  of  the  days  far  back 
are  indelibly  impressed  in  my  memory.  While  the  spirit 
shall  remain  with  this  clay,  and  the  mind  adhere  to  reason, 
I  shall  gaze  ever  with  regret  upon  the  sad  scene  of  a  once 
promising,  valuable  and  noble  life,  struck  down  and  de 
stroyed  in  its  infancy  by  the  hideous  sickle  of  a  wicked  con 
spiracy. 

When  I  have  reached  the  shining  river, 

And  shall  have  crossed  to  the  golden  shore, 
I  shall  see  and  know  the  smiling  face 

Of  my  lamented  one,  passed  over  long  before ! 
Freed  from  the  burden  of  sorrows, 

Of  those  unhappy  days  of  yore, 
Together,  in  the  realms  of  heavenly  blis* 

We  shall  rejoice,  and  part  no  more. 


UNIVERSITY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

Books  not  returned  on  time  are  subject  to  a  fine  of 
50c-  per  volume  after  the  third  day  overdue,  increasing 
to  $1.00  per  volume  after  the  sixth  day.  .  Books  not  in 
demand  may  be  renewed  if  application  is  made  before 
expiration  of  loan  period. 


or 


REC'D  LD 

DEC  2  7  1356 


50m-7,'16 


YC   15625 


